Co-captains named for Warriors v Rabbitohs
- Dave Worsley
- 21 hours ago
- 2 min read
NZ Warriors co-captains Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris have both been named along with centre Rocco Berry for Sunday’s 13th-round NRL clash against the Rabbitohs
Barnett starts for New South Wales in tomorrow night’s opening match of the 2025 State
of Origin series against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium before backing up for his club in
Sydney four days later.
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Fisher-Harris is set to be reunited with his front row teammate after being forced to sit
on the sideline for last Sunday night’s clash against Canberra as he served a one-match
suspension.
The inclusion of the veteran front rowers is a huge boost after they were unavailable for
the gruelling 10-16 loss to the Raiders which ended the Warriors’ five-game winning run
since losing to Melbourne on April 13.
Berry has been recalled for his fourth appearance of a disrupted season after suffering a
hamstring strain just after halftime in the Magic Round clash against the Cowboys. He
earlier sat out the match against the Broncos as he served a one-match suspension.
With Berry back, Ali Leiataua makes way while the hoped-for availability of both Barnett
and Fisher-Harris sees Marata Niukore, who started at prop against Canberra, reverting
to the second row alongside Kurt Capewell while Leka Halasima shifts to the interchange.
Named on the interchange with Halasima are utility Te Maire Martin and middle forwards
Demitric Vaimauga and Jackson Ford.
Martin has been used in brief stints off the bench in the last three matches and also did
the same against the Broncos in round seven. He’s in sight of his 100th career game as
he eyes his 98th appearance on Sunday.
With their narrow loss on Sunday night the Warriors are in a share of second on the table
but are third behind Canberra on points for and against, just two points behind the
Bulldogs.
The Wayne Bennett-coached Rabbitohs are coming off a bye sitting sixth on the ladder
on 14 points with a 6-5 win-loss record. They have two players in the New South Wales
squad in centre Latrell Mitchell and 18th man Campbell Graham.
In 41 matches between the two clubs, South Sydney has 21 wins to the Warriors’ 20.
The Warriors won 34-4 when the two teams
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4.Rocco Berry, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell (c), 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange (from): 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Leka Halasima, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Jackson Ford, 18. Jacob Laban, 20. Sam Healey, 21. Tanah Boyd, 22. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 23. Taine Tuaupiki