Warriors named for make-or-break Knights clash
Try-scoring wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been included in the extended squad for the Warriors elimination semifinal against the Newcastle Knights at Eden Park on Sunday.
Less than four weeks after breaking his right clavicle, the 31-year-old has been selected in the reserves for the first NRL final played at Eden Park, also set to be the biggest crowd in history for a rugby league match in New Zealand.
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Watene-Zelezniak is now in line to make his return after suffering the injury in the 45-26 win over the Rabbitohs on 22 August.
If he plays, Watene-Zelezniak will make his 250th NRL appearance in a 13-season career which has spanned time with the Panthers, Bulldogs and Warriors.
While Watene-Zelezniak is in the frame, centre Leka Halasima has also been named on the extended bench after missing last Saturday's 16-26 qualifying loss to the Dolphins.
Ruled out is prop Jackson Ford, who suffered an ankle injury in his comeback after being sidelined since June with a pectoral tear.
Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has been called up in his absence while the remainder of the side selected is the same which started in the loss against the Dolphins.
The talented Lek Halasima is named in the reserves after a claf injury in the warmup for last weekend's game.
The Warriors' seventh home final is the first they have played away from Go Media Stadium.
It will be their second play-off against the Knights. In the first in 2023, the Warriors came back from a week one finals loss to Penrith to beat Newcastle 40-10 at Go Media Stadium.
Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Bench: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 18. Jett Cleary, 20. Morgan Gannon.
Reserves: 21. Makaia Tafua, 22. Leka Halasima, 23. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
