Source: Radio New Zealand
Kiwis teammates James Fisher-Harris and Naufahu Whyte will face off, when the Warriors host the Roosters at Go Media Stadium. Photosport/RNZ
NRL: NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters
Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 6 March
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ website
NZ Warriors kick off their 2025 NRL campaign on Friday night against Sydney Roosters at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
The home side haven’t enjoyed much success against their rivals in recent times and they will find another old enemy lurking in the Roosters line-up.
Here’s how the game shapes up:
History
Over 48 previous meetings, Sydney Roosters hold a 24-23 head-to-head advantage, with one draw – a 31-31 deadlock at Allianz Stadium that remained unresolved through ‘Golden Point’ in 2007.
That superiority is far more pronounced over the last 10 encounters, where the Roosters enjoy an 8-2 advantage. The first of those defeats came in 2017 at Mt Smart Stadium and the most recent was their last game at the same venue 12 months ago.
Centre Ali Leiataua scored two tries in the 14-6 victory, after the home team trailed 6-4 at halftime, kept their opponents scoreless over the second 40 minutes.
Sydney’s biggest winning margin was 58-6 in 2004, when centre Justin Hodges scored three tries for a home team coached by Ricky Stuart and captained by Brad Fittler. The Roosters would win the minor premiership, but lost to Canterbury Bulldogs in the grand final.
The Warriors’ biggest win was 42-16 in 2006, with Jerome Ropati scoring four tries. The result was part of an impressive finish that saw them win eight of their last 12 games, but a four-point penalty for violating the salary cap ultimately cost them a spot in the playoffs.
Jerome Ropati scores a try against Sydney Roosters. Tim Hales/Photosport
Form
Neither team managed to win during the pre-season, with the Warriors falling 33-18 to Manly Sea Eagles and 38-34 to the Dolphins.
Missing seven players to the Māori v Indigenous All Stars game, they were forced to field a very inexperienced team against the Sea Eagles, but performed much better seven days later at Sydney’s Leichhardt Oval, where they led 34-20, before coach Andrew Webster gave his bench a run late.
The Dolphins scored three converted tries in the last 10 minutes – Tevita Naufahu, John Fineanganofo and Brian Pouniu were all born in Auckland – to snatch victory.
Sydney also fielded a makeshift line-up in their 42-26 loss to Wests Tigers, but were closer to full strength for a 28-22 defeat against Parramatta Eels, when they led 22-12 at halftime.
Teams
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Demitric Vaimauga, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Morgan Gannon
Reserves: 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Co-captain Mitch Barnett hasn’t recovered from last year’s season-ending knee injury enough to return for the opening round. He was due for testing in Sydney last week and hopes are high he will be available next week.
Front-rower Jackson Ford will start in his place, Chanel Harris-Tevita has recovered from his pre-season calf niggle to line up outside Tanah Boyd in the halves, while winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has bounced back from his hamstring twinge.
Marata Niukore is still nursing a calf strain and Jacob Laban will take his place in the second row. Englishman Morgan Gannon is poised for an NRL debut from the interchange.
Morgan Gannon may make his NRL debut for the Warriors off the bench. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Benaiah Ioelu, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12, Nat Butcher, 13. Blake Steep
Interchange: 14. Conor Watson, 15. Siua Wong, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Spencer Leniu, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Fetalaiga Pauga
Reserves: 20. Salesi Foketi, 21. Tommy Talau, 22. Toby Rodwell
Veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans will make his first-game debut for the Roosters, after spending the first 15 years of his career at Manly.
Last time he faced the Warriors, he provided the gamewinning field goal in his Sea Eagles farewell.
With off-season recruit Reece Robson sidelined by a broken thumb, Auckland-born Benaiah Ioelu will line up at hooker, while Victor ‘the Inflictor’ Radley will begin the new season serving a 10-game suspension for his part in the drugs scandal also involving Kiwi Brandon Smith.
Winger Mark Nawaqanitawase was the competition’s top tryscorer last year, while centre Robert Toia was Dally M Rookie of the Year.
Player to watch
When fullback James Tedesco lost his NSW Origin spot in 2024, after 22 consecutive appearances, many probably assumed he was entering the twilight of his career.
James Tedesco fends off Nathan Cleary during the 22025 NRL. DAN HIMBRECHTS/AAP/Photosport
Instead, he produced one of his best seasons in 2025, winning the Dally M Medal for the second time and taking Captain of the Year honours for good measure.
“We’ve got a world class fullback that we’re coming up against on the weekend,” Warriors counterpart Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad said. “It’s a really good challenge, a really good individual challenge… he can do whatever he wants, but if we get the ‘W’, I’ll be happy with that.”
Kiwi player to watch
Since the departure of Kiwi hardman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, young countryman Naufahu Whyte has elevated his game to fill the void, logging 23 games in each of the last two seasons and bringing up his 50th appearance for the Roosters last year.
His progress has made him an automatic selection for the national team and he will come up against NZ captain James Fisher-Harris this week.
“I’ve admired the bro for a long time now, ever since he was first in the Kiwis,” Fisher-Harris acknowledged. “Just the way he holds himself on and off the field.
“He’s developed into a good player now and last year he was killing it. He’s my bro and I’m keen to go at it.”
What they say
“It’s surprised me how well he trains for a guy who’s 37 years old. He doesn’t miss a session, he’s out there doing extras and looks after himself really well.”
Tedesco on new recruit Cherry-Evans
Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates his winning field goal against the Warriors in his final game for Manly. Jeremy Ng/www.photosport.nz
“A bit like us, I’m sure they’re not going to be perfect round one, but they will be experienced enough through those three [Cheery-Evans, Tedesco and Walker] to come with plenty of options. They’re a dangerous spine and Cherry’s going to add a lot.”
Webster on what to expect from Cherry-Evans
New rules
The NRL has brought in some new regulations that will challenge coaches’ adbility to adjust through the early rounds.
- Trainers won’t be able to run onto the field during play, a move designed to prioritise player safety, while also reducing messages being carried onto the field from coaches.
- Interchange benches will now consists of six players, but only four can be used up to eight times per game. This will allow coaches to carry specialist replacements among their subs.
- Defensive teams will no longer have a seven-tackle set, if the attacking team knocks on in goal.
- Infringements beyond the 20-metre line will be punished with a six-again call, replacing the previous 40-metres threshold.
- A proposal to give teams the option of kicking off or receiving the kickoff after a try was shelved for now.
What will happen
Too early in the season to make any informed predictions. This is a talented Roosters roster, but the result will come down to whoever can find some early-season cohesion quickest.
Cherry-Evans and Tedesco certainly know how to beat the Warriors, and their combination is scary.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
