Nicoll-Klokstad, Berry return for NZ Warriors
- Dave Worsley
- 11 hours ago
- 2 min read
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and centre Rocco Berry return while front rower Jackson Ford will make his 50th appearance for the Warruirs on Friday,.
The Warriors host Newcastle in their historic Anzac Day match at Apollo Projects Stadium in Christchurch.
LATEST HEADLINES:
Nicoll-Klokstad (concussion) and Berry (suspension) were both unavailable for Saturday
night’s gritty golden point victory over the Broncos but come straight back into the side.
Nicoll-Klokstad’s return sees Taine Tuaupiki back on the right wing replacing Edward Kosi
while Berry comes in for second rower Kurt Capewell who filled in for him in the centres
against Brisbane.
Capewell is back in the second row with Leka Halasima reverting to the interchange
along with Demitric Vaimauga, Bunty Afoa and Jacob Laban, giving the Warriors one of
the youngest benches in their history with Vaimauga and Laban both 21 and Halasima
only 19.
After marking 100-game landmarks for Erin Clark and Adam Pompey in the last two
games against Melbourne and Brisbane, the hard-working Ford is the milestone man this
week as he brings up his 50th appearance for the club.
It will be the Warriors’ 16th Anzac Day fixture but the first in Christchurch
with the previous 15 split between AAMI Park and Go Media Stadium.
They’ll be seeking their first Anzac Round victory on New Zealand soil following losses in
the two matches against the Titans in Auckland last year and in 2015.
They Warriors go into the contest seeking a fourth straight home win following three on
end at Go Media Stadium against Manly Warringah (36-16), the Sydney Roosters (14-6)
and the extra-time thriller against the Broncos (20-18) last week.
Together with the away win against the Wests Tigers (26-24), the Warriors sit fourth on
the ladder on 10 points. Their 4-2 win-loss start to the season has been bettered only
twice in the club’s previous 30 campaigns (5-1 in 2018 and 2003).
It will be the 52nd clash between the Warriors and the Knights with the two opponents
having 25 wins apiece with one drawn.
The Warriors have a strong success rate against Newcastle in games played in New
Zealand with nine wins in the last 10 contests (eight in Auckland and one in Wellington)
with the last loss in 2019.
Newcastle have lost their last four games in a row in the 2025 season.
Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki, Rocco Berry, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf; Jackson Ford, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Marata Niukore, Erin Clark. Interchange: Leka Halasima, Bunty Afoa, Demitric Vaimauga, Jacob Laban. Reserves: Te Maire Martin, Tanah Boyd, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Samuel Healey, Edward Kosi