NZ Warriors big names return to face Tigers
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James Fisher-Harris, Leka Halasima and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira have all been named to return from injury for the Warriors’ round 20 NRL cash against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Sports Stadium in Sydney on Friday.
And the door has been left open for Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell to back up from
tomorrow night’s State of Origin series decider after being included on the extended
bench.
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Prop Fisher-Harris (calf) and second rower Halasima (hamstring) have been sidelined
since the 18-20 loss to Penrith on May 31, a period that encompassed two byes plus the
tight 8-10 loss to the Sharks, the 38-20 win against the Cowboys and the heart-breaking
24-26 defeat by the Dolphins.
Winger Khan-Pereira, who has nine tries in eight appearances, is set to come back from
a thigh injury suffered in the home loss to the Sharks which kept him out of the contests
with the Cowboys and Dolphins.
While he returns the Warriors have lost leading try scorer Dallin Watene-Zelezniak – 16
tries in 15 appearances – after he picked up a hamstring injury against the Dolphins.
Barnett and Capewell will be considered to back up 48 hours after the Origin showdown
at Suncorp Stadium tomorrow night when they face off against each other for the third
time in this year’s series (Barnett in the front row for New South Wales and Capewell in
the second row for Queensland).
Barnett returned from Melbourne to take on the Cowboys in Christchurch four days after
playing in Origin II but Capewell was omitted.
As well as Barnett and Capewell, the others included on the extended bench are Sam
Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Demitric Vaimauga, Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf, Makaia
Tafua and ex-Wests Tigers Luke Laulilii, who has been signed on a short-term deal until
the end of the season.
Following their third bye the One New Zealand Warriors remain second on the ladder on
26 points along with the Roosters and Knights.
When the Warriors and Tigers met at Go Media Stadium in round four, the visitors stole a
32-14 victory. They go into Friday nights match lying 12th after three consecutive losses
to the Dolphins, Knights and Dragons
1 Taine Tuaupiki, 2 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 3 Ali Leiataua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Te Maire Martin, 8 James Fisher-Harris (c), 9 Wayde Egan
10 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Jacob Laban, 13 Erin Clark, Interchange:
14 Sam Healey, 15 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Marata Niukore, 18 Luke Metcalf, 20 Makaia Tafua, 21 Luke Laulilii, 22 Mitchell Barnett,
23 Kurt Capewell
