Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back for the NZ Warriors' Round 16 away clash with the Gold Coast Titans, but several other players are absent.
Experienced back-rowers Kurt Capewell (Queensland) and Mitchell Barnett (New South
Wales) are unavailable following their selection for State of Origin II on June 26.
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Centre Rocco Berry is sidelined with a shoulder injury which forced him off after just 37 minutes of the clash with Melbourne and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is serving a one-game suspension after taking an early guilty plea for a high tackle on his Storm opposite Grant Anderson.
Tuivasa-Sheck replaces Berry in the centres as he returns from a hamstring injury which
kept him out of the club’s last five matches against the Roosters, Panthers, Dolphins,
Cowboys and Storm.
Edward Kosi makes his 30th NRL appearance with Watene-Zelezniak suspended for just
the second time in his 203-game career.
With Barnett out, Dylan Walker moves from loose forward to the second row and captain
Tohu Harris returns to the starting lineup after being used from the bench in his first two
matches back from his hand injury.
Capewell’s place on the interchange is taken by 36-game prop Tom Ale who joins utility
Chanel Harris-Tavita, middle forward Jazz Tevaga and back rower Jacob Laban.
Among the players on the extended bench is 18-year-old second rower Leka Halasima,
who has been impressive in his last four games for the club’s New South Wales Cup side
since returning from injury.
Despite finishing ahead in a raft of statistical measures, the New Zealand Warriors
were left disappointed after their 24-28 loss to the Storm in front of a packed Mt Smart on Saturday. The result leaves them on 15 points in 12th place two points out of
the top eight.
While the Titans are sitting at the bottom of the ladder with a 3-10 record, the
Warriors have found them challenging opponents.
They have won five of the last seven encounters between the clubs, most recently beating
the Warriors 27-24 at Mt Smart on Anzac Day.
NZ Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Edward Kosi, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson; Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Dylan Walker, Tohu Harris (c); Interchange: Chanel Harris-Tavita, Jacob Laban, Jazz Tevaga, Tom Ale; Reserves: Bunty Afoa, Taine Tuaupiki, Moala Graham-Taufa, Freddy Lussick, Demetric Sifakula