Source: Radio New Zealand
Te Maire Martin will miss about three months with his fractured fibula. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
NRL pre-season: Warriors v Dolphins
Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 20 February
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ
NZ Warriors have suffered their first significant injury of the 2026 NRL campaign, with the loss of utility Te Maire Martin to a broken leg.
Martin left the field during the first half of last weekend’s Māori v Indigenous All Stars clash at Hamilton and has been diagnosed with a fractured fibula (lower leg) that keep him out of action for about 12 weeks.
Martin was a key component of the Warriors interchange last season, with his ability to cover a variety of positions off the bench. He will now join halfback Luke Metcalf, who continues to rehab his knee, after season-ending surgery last July.
The Warriors had seven players involved in the pre-season spectacle and have named four to return for their second trial against the Dolphins on Friday.
The other absentees are co-captain James Fisher-Harris, who is given the week off, and winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who suffered concussion in action for the Indigenous side.
Coach Andrew Webster fielded a makeshift line-up against Manly Sea Eagles last Saturday, with several untested at first grade, and watched them tumble to a 33-18 defeat at Napier.
Six days later, his team is much closer to full strength, with the addition of fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, centre Adam Pompey and second-rower Jacob Laban.
Young forward Demetric Vaimauga has also been given a rest, while veteran winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is still nursing the hamstring twinge that forced him out of the Manly fixture.
Second-rower Marata Niukore and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita are other notable omissions, but back-up fullback Taine Tuaupiki has been named 18th man, after an off-season leg injury delayed his return to training.
Five-eighth Luke Hanson and winger Haizyn Mellars are the only players named yet to play first grade.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Haizyn Mellars, 6. Luke Hanson, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell (c), 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Morgan Gannon, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 21. Kayliss Fatialofa, 22. Jack Thompson, 23. Makaia Tafua, 24. Motu Pasikala, 25. Sio Kali, 26. Caelys-Paul Putoko, 27. Geronimo Doyle, 28. Rodney Tuipuiotu-Vea, 29. Paea Sikuvea
Meanwhile, the Dolphins have added several frontliners, including former Warriors Kodi Nikorima at five-eighth, after suffering a 24-12 loss to Gold Coast Titans last week,
Dolphins: 1. Trai Fuller, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Jake Averillo, 4. Herbie Farnworth, 5. Selwyn Cobbo, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Isaiya Katoa (c), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Bradley Schneider, 10. Tom Gilbert, 11. Connelly Lemuelu, 12. Oryn Keeley, 13. Morgan Knowles
Interchange: 14. Tevita Naufahu, 15. Thomas Flegler, 16. Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 17. John Fineanganofo
Reserves: 18. Sebastian Su’a, 19. Elijah Rasmussen, 20. Brian Pouniu, 21. Zac Garton, 22. Brent Woolf, 23. Adquix-Jeramiah Watts-Luke, 24. Sangstar Figota, 25. Noah Fien, 26. Elijah McKay
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
