NZ Warriors mix up selections with injuries
- Dave Worsley
- Jun 24
- 2 min read
Updated: Jun 26
Queensland State of Origin hero Kurt Capewell, centre Rocco Berry and wing Edward Kosi come into the starting lineup for the NZ Warriors for their Round 17 NRL encounter with the Brisbane Broncos.
The game will be held at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday afternoon with the Broncos currently sitting in fifth place, one spot behind the Warriors.
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Capewell returns in the second row after being omitted for last week’s clash against
Penrith due to his extreme travel schedule on the back of a gruelling second Origin
match in Perth.
Berry has recovered from a hamstring strain to come back into the centres for Moala
Graham-Taufa, while Kosi will make his fourth appearance of the season replacing Dallin
Watene-Zelezniak, ruled out for four to six weeks with an ankle injury.
Capewell’s return to the back row after again slotting into the centres in his last start
against the Sharks, sees him named alongside Jacob Laban with Leka Halasima going
onto the interchange for rookie prop Tanner Stowers-Smith.
Stowers-Smith is on an extended bench which also includes halfback Tanah Boyd, hooker
Sam Healey, prop Bunty Afoa and fullback-winger Taine Tuaupiki.
Saturday’s eagerly anticipated contest pits fourth against fifth with the Warriors fourth
on 24 points with Melbourne, six points clear of the Broncos who vaulted up the ladder
with their 34-28 comeback victory over Cronulla Sutherland last Sunday.
With a 10-4 record after 14 games, the Warriors are seeking a rebound following their
18-28 loss to the Panthers, their second successive defeat at home.
In away games in Australia this season they’ve won five out of six matches while they
also prevailed in their Magic Round ‘home’ game against North Queensland at Suncorp
Stadium early last month.
NZ WARRIORS: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Edward Kosi, Adam Pompey, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf; James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Marata Niukore, Kurt Capewell, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Jackson Ford, Demitric Vaimauga, Leka Halasima. Reserves: Tanner Stowers-Smith, Tanah Boyd, Samuel Healey, Bunty Afoa, Taine Tuaupiki
