A positional change for the 2024 Warriors finale with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in at centre to face the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday in Sydney.
After having a stranglehold on the fullback spot since returning to the Warriors last year, a shortage at centre means Nicoll-Klokstad shifts infield for the club’s last game of the year.
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Injuries to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (concussion) and Adam Pompey (knee) have left the Warriors short, with Rocco Berry (shoulder) also out injured.
Taine Tuaupiki takes Nicoll-Klokstad’s place at fullback as part of a backline shuffle that also sees the return of Ali Leiataua in the No 4 jersey.
Meanwhile Wayde Egan play his 100th NRL match for the Warriors. The 27-year-old isthe 30th player to play 100 games for the Warriors.
Saturday’s game will also be the last for halfback Shaun Johnson, who returns to finish his career against the side he joined in 2019, before returning to the Warriors in 2022.
Like Johnson, the pair of Jazz Tevaga and Addin Fonua-Blake also conclude their Warriors careers, before moving elsewhere in 2025.
Fonua-Blake has already confirmed his move, coincidentally to the Sharks. Tevaga meanwhile is yet to reveal his next club but has made clear he will stay in the NRL.
The two sides met in round one, where Cronulla took a 16-12 victory to open the season.
NZ WARRIORS: Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ali Leiataua, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore, Kurt Capewell, Dylan Walker Interchange (from): Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale, Jazz Tevaga, Demetric Sifakula, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Leka Halasima, . Edward Kosi, Paul Roache, Jacob Laban