Warriors name State of Origin stars on bench

Mitch Barnett is named on the extended bench for the Warriors clash with the Cowboys in Christchurch PHOTO: NRL

Veteran forwards Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell are in contention to back up from State of Origin duty after being included on the NZ Warriors’ extended bench for Sunday’s round 16 NRL clash against North Queensland at Christchurch.

New South Wales prop Barnett and Queensland second rower Capewell go head-to-head

again in the second match of this year’s Origin series at the Melbourne Cricket Ground

tomorrow night.

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Warriors head coach Andrew Webster opted not to include them in the extended squad

to face Penrith after Origin I but has named them this time giving him the opportunity to

assess whether they will back up against the Cowboys.

Barnett is named in jersey #22 and Capewell in #23 on a bench which includes two

other frontline players in halfback Luke Metcalf and centre Rocco Berry.

Both players have been used in the club’s New South Wales Cup team’s last two matches

as they look to return to first grade.

Also back in the squad is hooker Sam Healey who returns earlier than expected from his

fractured thumb to slot in on the interchange. It had been anticipated he wouldn’t return

until round 17 or 18.

However, the Warriors have lost speedster Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira for a spell after he

picked up a quadriceps contusion in a heavy collision just before halftime in Saturday

night’s gruelling battle with the Sharks.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad replaced him at the halftime break and will now start on the left

wing on Sunday.

On the right wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, boasting 14 tries in 13 appearances so far

this season, will play his 99th game for the club and is set to join the Warriors’ 100-game

club in the round 17 match against the Dolphins.

Sunday’s match at One New Zealand Stadium – sold out in five days in January – is the

first NRL match played at Christchurch’s new sporting venue. It will be the third leg of a

tripleheader with the club’s NRLW side playing a trial against the Broncos and the New

South Wales Cup team taking on the Bulldogs.

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Marie Martin, 8. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Jacob Laban, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Kayliss Fatialofa, 18. Rocco Berry, 20. Luke Metcalf

Reserves: 21. Makaia Tafua, 22. Mitch Barnett, 23. Kurt Capewell