Warriors recall backline trio for Manly clash
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- 2 min read
Experienced halves Te Maire Martin and Chanel Harris-Tavita plus fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad have been called up for tWarriors’ final regular season match against Manly at Go Media Stadium on Saturday).
While the seasoned trio return to bolster the backline, veteran forwards Wayde Egan and
Kurt Capewell have been rested for the last game before the week one finals match at
home.
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Martin and Harris-Tavita are reunited for the first time since guiding the Warriors to their
42-6 win over the Titans in round 22.
A hamstring injury kept Martin out of the next three victories over Penrith, Brisbane and
South Sydney before he and Harris-Tavita were both withdrawn as a precaution for last
Sunday’s encounter with Newcastle.
They take control again after rookies Jett Cleary and Luke Hanson, the least experienced
halves combination in the club’s history, piloted the side last week.
Nicoll-Klokstad slots into fullback again for his 149th career match after serving a two-
match suspension; that results in Taine Tuaupiki being named on the six-man bench.
Martin, Harris-Tavita and Nicoll-Klokstad provide an injection of 382 NRL games between
them after the Warriors’ starting backline used against the Knights had a combined total
of just 213 games
In Capewell’s absence 21-year-old Eddie Ieremia-Toeava is in the second row with fellow young gun Jacob Laban (22) for his first NRL start after being used off the bench in his first 15 appearances. It’s reward for him in a season in which he has averaged 93 metres and 27 tackles a game.
With Egan sitting out the week, Sam Healey starts at hooker for the first time this year
(he had three starts last year) and Adam Pompey is on the right wing after coming on for
Luke Laulilii whose club debut ended cruelly after just 13 minutes of last week’s 46-32
win over the Knights.
Loose forward Erin Clark, now the only player to line up in all 24 games so far this year,
will reach his 50-game milestone for the club on Saturday as will centre Leka Halasima.
With Healey starting at #9, two-game rookie hooker Makaia Tafua is on the six-man
bench along with Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga, Morgan Gannon, Taine
Tuaupiki and Kayliss Fatialofa with Jett Cleary, Jye Linnane and Haizyn Mellars the
reserves.
The Warriors go into the match on top of the table for the second week running with a
chance to win the minor premiership for only the second time.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Adam Pompey, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Leka Halasima, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chancel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Sam Healey, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark.
Interchange (from): 14. Makaia Taufa, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Eddie Morgan Gannon, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Kayliss Fatialofa, 21. Jett Cleary, 22. Jye Linnane, 23. Haizyn Mellars.
