{"id":244762,"date":"2026-01-21T18:26:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:26:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/244762\/"},"modified":"2026-01-21T18:26:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T18:26:28","slug":"full-squad-named-for-shot-at-harold-matthews-three-peat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/244762\/","title":{"rendered":"Full squad named for shot at Harold Matthews three-peat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>New captain Tusi Fanolua is among several players returning for another Harold Matthews Cup (under-19) season after being involved in last year\u2019s repeat grand final triumph.<\/p>\n<p>The 16-year-old De La Salle College pupil (he turns 17 on February 2) came off the bench in the Warriors\u2019 30-16 win over Newcastle in the premiership decider backing up the club&#8217;s stunning grand final win on debut in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>Fanolua was revealed as skipper by new head coach and former Warrior Albert Vete as full squads were named for the Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup (under-19) competitions at a special fiafia night at the Due Drop Events Centre in Manukau City on Monday.<\/p>\n<p>Winger Kaian Olsen and three other interchange players from the 2025 grand final side are returning this year \u2013 Satali Asolelei-Fretton, Kenny Lafituanai and Hanita Takulua \u2013 while Christiano Elia was 18th man for the decider. Shannon Pai was also used during the season.<\/p>\n<p>&#13;<br \/>\n  &#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<br \/>\n    <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"inline-image__image o-shadowed-box\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/kenny-lafituanai-1a.jpg\"\/>&#13;<br \/>\n  &#13;<br \/>\n  &#13;<br \/>\n    &#13;<br \/>\n  &#13;<\/p>\n<p>While the majority of players are from schools in the Auckland metropolitan area there\u2019s a nationwide spread with squad members included from Gisborne Boys\u2019 High School, \u00a0St Thomas of Canterbury College (Christchurch), Hamilton Boys\u2019 High School, \u00a0Christ\u2019s College (Christchurch), Christchurch Boys\u2019 High School, Timaru Boys\u2019 High School, New Plymouth Boys\u2019 High School, St Patrick\u2019s College (Wellington), Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa I te reo ki T\u016bwharetoa (Taup\u014d), Tauranga Boys\u2019 College, Wesley College (Pukekohe), Tipene (Bombay) and Marlborough Boys\u2019 High School (Blenheim).<\/p>\n<p>The One New Zealand Warriors being their season against The Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Bruce Pulman Park, Takanini, on Sunday, February 8.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>2026 Harold Matthews Cup squad<\/p>\n<p>Agelu Malaesilia (Manurewa High School, Auckland)<br \/>Ammon Lilomaiava (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)<br \/>Anakin Ormsby-Cairns (Gisborne Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Bailey Maruariki-Butler (Auckland Grammar School, Auckland)<br \/>Blake Bruce (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Christian Palu (Mount Albert Grammar, Auckland)<br \/>Christiano Elia (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)<br \/>Chris Sau (Manurewa High School, Auckland)<br \/>CJ Henry-Poutoa (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Dominic Tanoa&#8217;i (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)<br \/>Ezaiah Solomon (Hamilton Boys\u2019 High School, Hamilton)<br \/>Hanita Takulua (Mount Albert Grammar School, Auckland)<br \/>Hemiata Togia (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)<br \/>Hoani-Manuera Kahukiwa (Christ\u2019s College, Christchurch)<br \/>Jackson Robinson (Timaru Boys\u2019 High School, Timaru)<br \/>Jai Meyer (New Plymouth Boys\u2019 High School, New Plymouth)<br \/>Kaian Olsen (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Karcin Puna (St Peter\u2019s College, Auckland)<br \/>Kava Moa (De La Salle College, Auckland)<br \/>Kayce Perese-Sukroo (One Tree Hill College, Auckland)<br \/>Keanu Simpson (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)<br \/>Kenny Lafituanai (St Thomas of Canterbury College, Christchurch)<br \/>Koia Cook (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)<br \/>Lennox-Rua Limu-Franklin (Christchurch Boys\u2019 High School, Christchurch)<br \/>Liam De Har-Elliott (Hamilton Boys\u2019 High School, Hamilton)<br \/>Lordzz Matapa (De La Salle College, Auckland)<br \/>Lucas March (Hamilton Boys\u2019 High School, Hamilton)<br \/>Luke Mostert (Christ\u2019s College, Christchurch)<br \/>Makarios Vaihola (St Patrick\u2019s College, Wellington)<br \/>Makisi (Leka) Paea (Aorere College, Auckland)<br \/>Malakai Havealeta (Wesley College, Pukekohe)<br \/>Nathandavid Tapusoa (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Nela Kali (St Paul\u2019s College, Auckland)<br \/>Ngaio Morehu-Hamutana (Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Whakarewa I te reo ki T\u016bwharetoa, Taup\u014d)<br \/>Reuben Matautia (De La Salle College, Auckland)<br \/>Rhayn (Rain) Taikato (Tauranga Boys\u2019 College, Tauranga)<br \/>Rilee Huggins (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Robert Pange (St Peter\u2019s College, Auckland)<br \/>Sam Fox (Gisborne Boys\u2019 High School, Gisborne)<br \/>Satali Asolelei-Fretton (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Shannon Pai (St Peter\u2019s College, Auckland)<br \/>Shaye McEwan (De La Salle College, Auckland)<br \/>Sifa (Joseph) Moala (Aorere College, Auckland)<br \/>Siope To&#8217;Ofohe (Southern Cross Campus, Auckland)<br \/>Stepharn Tekotia (Massey High School, Auckland)<br \/>Steven Luatua (Dilworth School, Auckland)<br \/>Tangifetaua Fangupo (Sacred Heart College, Auckland)<br \/>Tawhiri Rush (Tipene, Bombay)<br \/>Thomas Christensen (Christchurch Boys\u2019 High School, Christchurch)<br \/>TJ (Tyler James Finlay (Aorere College, Auckland)<br \/>Tupouniua Otutaha (Kelston Boys\u2019 High School, Auckland)<br \/>Tusi Fanolua (De La Salle College, Auckland)<br \/>Vilikesa Nawaqavonovono (Marlborough Boys\u2019 High School, Blenheim)<\/p>\n<p>Staff<br \/>Head coach | Albert Vete<br \/>Assistant coach | Jethro Friend<br \/>Assistant coach | Fletcher Butler<br \/>Assistant coach | Tony Iro<br \/>Trainer | Will McTaggart<br \/>Trainer | Bryn Hopkins<br \/>Physiotherapist | Caine Nahu<br \/>Manager | Molisoni Otukolo<br \/>Video analyst | Sam Davis<br \/>Wellbeing | Leeson Ah Mau<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"New captain Tusi Fanolua is among several players returning for another Harold Matthews Cup (under-19) season after 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