Warriors named to host Penrith Panthers
- Dave Worsley
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Queensland second rower Kurt Capewell won’t back up from State of Origin duty for the One New Zealand Warriors’ sold-out NRLmatch against four-time premiers the Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium on Saturday
The 31-year-old 170-game veteran is back on the Origin stage for game two of the 2025
series against New South Wales at Optus Stadium in Perth Wednesday
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With Capewell facing a long flight back to Auckland arriving home early on Friday, head
coach Andrew Webster has opted against including him in the extended squad for the
Warriors’ first clash against the Panthers at Go Media Stadium in six years.
Capewell’s absence has forced another change in the centres with Rocco Berry not yet
ready to return from a hamstring issue while Ali Leiataua is sidelined for five to six weeks
with an ankle injury.
It results in an NRL recall for Moala Graham-Taufa who made three appearances for the
club last season, the last of them in the round 22 loss to Parramatta on August 2.
The 23-year-old Marist Saints junior is the top try scorer for the Warriors’ table-topping
New South Cup side with 11 tries in 12 matches.
In another lineup change, seasoned hooker Wayde Egan returns after missing the 40-10
round 14 win over Cronulla Sutherland with a hip injury. Sam Healey, called in at the
11th hour, reverts to the extended bench.
Egan aside, Webster has named the same starting pack used against the Sharks with
Marata Niukore at prop alongside captain James Fisher-Harris and Leka Halasima and
Jacob Laban in the second row.
Rookie prop Tanner Stowers-Smith, today re-signed until 2028, is on the interchange
again for what will be his third NRL appearance.
The match doubles as a milestone occasion for interchange utility Te Maire Martin and
Niukore.
Martin started his career with Penrith in 2016 and will now play his 100th match against
his original club on Saturday while Niukore makes his 50th appearance for the Warriors.
Coming off a bye after their impressive 40-10 round 14 win over Cronulla Sutherland,
the Warriors lie second equal on the NRL ladder on 24 points with Canberra after winning
10 of 13 games so far.
Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey, Moala Graham-Taufa, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Luke Metcalf; James Fisher-Harris, Wayde Egan, Marata Niukore, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark. Interchange: Te Maire Martin, Jackson Ford, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith. Reserves: Samuel Healey, Bunty Afoa, Tanah Boyd, Edward Kosi, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava.
