Significant changes have been forced in the Warriors’ outside backs.
First-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf) and winger Marcelo Montoya (groin) have both been ruled out as they recover from injuries which saw them leave the field in the heartbreaking 12-13 golden point loss to the Bulldogs on July 6.
Taine Tuaupiki comes in at fullback for his fifth NRL appearance of the season (and 10th of his career) after last playing in the Magic Round victory over Penrith on May 19 before being a late withdrawal for the match against the Dolphins to be with his partner for the birth of their first child.
State of Origin forwards Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell are confirmed starters for the One New Zealand Warriors in tonight’s round 20 NRL match against the Raiders at GIO Stadium in Canberra (8.00pm kick-off local time; 10.00pm NZT).
They’ll line up in a side as selected 1-17 with centre Moala Graham-Taufa named as 18th man an hour before kick-off.
Barnett and Capewell were opponents less than 48 hours ago as New South Wales beat Queensland 14-4 to clinch the 2024 Origin series.
The 30-year-old Barnett became the first Warriors player to debut for the Blues and only the club’s second New South Wales Origin representative after Ryan Hoffman.
On the field for 48 minutes, he was impressive finishing with 11 runs for 73 metres and 30 tackles without a miss.
Capewell shouldered a big workload for the vanquished Queensland side, playing all but the final eight minutes making 12 runs 72 minutes plus 41 tackles.
There’s a shuffle in the centres and on the wing with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moving to the left wing to replace Montoya while Ali Leiataua comes into the centres.
It will be the second time Tuivasa-Sheck has started on the wing this season while rookie Leiataua will play his third NRL match after his last appearance – a try-scoring one – in the win over the Panthers.
For the 21-year-old tonight’s match brings back memories of his fine first-grade debut when the Warriors had a 36-14 win over Canberra at GIO Stadium on June 9 last year.
