Source: Radio New Zealand
Luke Metcalf returned from his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament against Tigers. Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
NRL: NZ Warriors v Cronulla Sharks
Kickoff 4pm, Sunday, 5 April
Ocean Protect Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ website
NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster has stuck with an unchanged starting line-up to face Cronulla Sharks in Sydney on Sunday.
With co-captain Mitch Barnett nursing a broken thumb, the biggest change comes on the interchange where Demitric Vaimauga will likely fill that spot in the rotation and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava joins the bench.
Vaimauga did not take the field last week, as Webster tried to spread playing time among his reserves.
Last week, against Wests Tigers, the coach reshuffled his named backline, with Taine Tuaupiki filling fullback, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad moving to centre and Ali Leiataua dropping out of the gameday squad.
Nicoll-Klokstad scored a try double against the Tigers and Webster has stuck with that same configuration, while also retaining Tanah Boyd and Luke Metcalf as his halves combination.
After jumping out to an early 10-0 lead, the Warriors squandered their advantage to trail 16-10 at halftime and eventually tumbled to their first defeat of the season, 32-14.
Englishman Morgan Gannon is among the extended reserves, after clearing the concussion suffered during his short-lived NRL debut against Newcastle Knights.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Marata Niukore, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserves: 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Ali Leiataua
Meanwhile, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has stuck with the same starters that toppled Canberra Raiders last week, but adds Taranaki-born Mawene Hiroti to the bench, with Kiwis star Briton Nikora listed on the extended reserves with his broken nose.
Sharks: 1. Will Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Jesse Ramien, 4. KL Iro, 5. Sam Stonestreet, 6. Braydon Trindall, 7. Nicho Hynes, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Blayke Brailey, 10. Tony Rudolf, 11. Billy Burns, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Jesse Colquhoun
Interchange: 14. Sione Talakai, 15. Tom Hazelton, 16. Oregon Kaufusi, 17. Braden Uele, 18. Mawene Hiroti, 19. Hohepa Puru
Reserves: 20. Jayden Berrell, 21. Michael Gabrael, 22. Briton Nikora
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
