Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris accept the Zae Wallace Shield, after the Warriors beat Gold Coast Titans.
Photo: Brett Phibbs/Photosport
NRL: NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 13 June
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ
NZ Warriors co-captains Mitch Barnett and James Fisher-Harris will both miss this week’s NRL showdown against Cronulla Sharks at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
Barnett’s absence is totally expected, after he was named for New South Wales for the second State of Origin encounter against Queensland next Wednesday.
On the other hand, Fisher-Harris has popped up on the Warriors injury report with a calf strain and will sit out for the first time this season, replaced by Tanner Stowers-Smith in the front row.
Veteran Kurt Capewell has also retained his spot in the Queensland line-up, but fellow second-rower Leka Halasima is still nursing the hamstring strain suffered before last week’s bye and will also miss his first game this year. Veteran Marata Niukore replaces him in the starting line-up.
Back-up hooker Sam Healey has also been ruled out with a broken thumb, as the body count severely tests the club’s much-vaunted depth. Young hooker Makaia Tafua, second-rower Kayless Fatialofa, front-rower Jason Salalilo and back utility Jye Linnane all face possible first-grade debuts off the interchange.
Halfback Luke Metcalf and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have also been named among the extended reserves, but the starting backline remains the same that faced Penrith Panthers two weeks ago.
Hooker Makaia Tafua eyes an NRL debut for the Warriors against the Sharks.
Photo: Photosport
Under the circumstances, the non-selection of in-form front-rower Jackson Ford and hooker Wayde Egan must seem like a breath of fresh air to coach Andrew Webster, who has been able to plug them into a severely depleted forward pack. Egan appeals as a likely stand-in skipper.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Marata Niukore, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Makaia Tafua, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Kayliss Fatialofa, 18. Jason Salalilo, 20. Jye Linnane
Reserves: 21. Luke Metcalf, 22. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 23. Jacob Auloa
Meanwhile, the Sharks have lost the services of front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake to New South Wales and second-rower Briton Nikora to Queensland, but will welcome back centre Jesse Ramien, after he missed their win over St George-Illawarra Dragons with a knee injury.
They’re also missing the services of star half Nicho Hynes with a calf niggle.
Cronulla will seek their fourth straight win and inflicted a 36-22 defeat on the Warriors in Sydney in April.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sam Stonestreet, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. KL Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Baydon Trindall, 7. Niwhai Puru, 8. Jesse Colquhoun, 9. Jayden Barrell, 10. Tony Rudolf, 11. Billy Burns, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cam McInnes
Interchange: 14. Mawene Hiroti, 15. Oregon Kaufusi, 16. Siosifa Talakai, 17. Tom Hazelton, 18. Hohepa Puru, 19. Tuku Hau Tapuha
Reserves: 20. Sione Katoa, 21. Michael Gabrael, 22. Blake Hosking
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