An unchanged 17 has been named for the third straight game for the NZ Warriors’ round three NRL clash against the Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday.
Following their setback in Las Vegas, the same 17 players rebounded to deliver one of
the club’s most impressive victories last Friday night in scoring six tries to stun a Manly
side coming off an emphatic display against the Cowboys.
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After shuffling the originally-selected starting pack for the match against Canberra, the
Warriors started as selected against the Sea Eagles.
The only changes this week come on the extended bench.
With back-up hooker Sam Healey sidelined for a week with a shoulder injury, 48-game
NRL dummy half Freddy Lussick is on the bench.
Second rower Jacob Laban comes in for Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, who was 18th man last
week.
Centre Rocco Berry has been brought in as he continues his comeback from
a shoulder injury. Used for 40 minutes in the New South Wales Cup side’s first match of
the season against Western Suburbs, Berry played the full 80 minutes in the 31-20 win
over Manly last Friday night.
This week’s match provides a milestone moment for fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
when he makes his 50th NRL appearance for the Warriors. He was a key contributor last
week making a team-high 171 metres and six tackle breaks.
Loose forward Erin Clark and centre Adam Pompey edge closer to 100-game milestones,
Clark playing his 98th game while Pompey makes his 97th appearance (all for the
Warriors).
There’s little between the Warriors and the Roosters in the 47 matches they’ve played
since 1995, the Roosters winning 24, the Warriors 22 with one draw.
However, the ledger has been strongly in the Roosters’ favour more recently. They’ve
won the last eight encounters since losing 6-30 in Sydney in 2018.
NZ WARRIORS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Taine Tuaupiki, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf, James Fisher-Harris (cc), Wayde Egan, Mitch Barnett, Kurt Capewell, Marata Miukore, Erin Clark. Interchange: Dylan Walker, Jackson Ford, Demitiric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban, Te Marie Martin, Freddy Lussick, Bunty Afoa, Rocco Berry