NZ Warriors without captain Mitch Barnett for NRL season-opener against Sydney Roosters
Mitchell Barnett in possession. South Sydney Rabbitohs v One NZ Warriors.
Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
NRL: NZ Warriors v Sydney Roosters
Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 6 March
Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ website
NZ Warriors co-captain Mitch Barnett has missed the cut for his team’s NRL season-opener against Sydney Roosters at Go Media Stadium on Friday.
Englishman Morgan Gannon is poised for a debut in the Aussie rugby league competition on the extended interchange, while second-rower Marata Niukore is another absence in coach Andrew Webster’s first line-up of the regular season.
Co-captain Barnett was sidelined much of last season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee and has not passed fit for round one, with his starting front-row spot filled by Jackson Ford.
Last week, he told those gathered at the team’s official season launch that he faced four days of intensive testing in Sydney to determine his readiness and hoped to return in the early rounds.
After missing both pre-season trials with a calf niggle, Chanel Harris-Tavita will line up outside Tanah Boyd in the halves, but Niukore hasn’t been able to shrug off the same injury.
Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck also sat the pre-season with a hamstring tweak, but returns for the opener.
Under new NRL rules, Webster has named six on the interchange bench, featuring specialist hooker Sam Healey, outside back Taine Tuaupiki and four forwards.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Demitric Vaimauga, 16. Leka Halasima, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Morgan Gannon
Reserves: 21. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 22. Luke Hanson, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Meanwhile, after serving the first 15 years of his career with Manly Sea Eagles, veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans will make his Roosters debut against the Warriors, lining up outside Sam Walker.
“We saw a piece of it in the trial and I think he’ll give them a lot of experience and balance,” Webster said. “A lot of things go through Sammy Walker and [fullback James] Tedesco, so he will balance the field up and can be very dominant like we know he can be.
“A bit like us, I’m sure they’re not going to be perfect round one, but they will be experienced enough through those three to come with plenty of options. They’re a dangerous spine and Cherry’s going to add a lot.”
Last time the Warriors faced Cherry-Evans, he slotted a late field goal for a 27-26 victory in his Manly farewell. At 37, he is the oldest player in the competition.
With off-season recruit Reece Robson nursing a broken thumb, young Auckland-born Benaiah Ioelu will line up at hooker, alongside NZ Kiwis prop Naufahu Whyte.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Billy Smith, 4. Robert Toia, 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase, 6. Daly Cherry-Evans, 7. Sam Walker, 8. Naufahu Whyte, 9. Benaiah Ioelu, 10. Lindsay Collins, 11. Angus Crichton, 12, Nat Butcher, 13. Blake Steep
Interchange: 14. Conor Watson, 15. Siua Wong, 16. Egan Butcher, 17. Spencer Leniu, 18. Cody Ramsey, 19. Fetalaiga Pauga
Reserves: 20. Salesi Foketi, 21. Tommy Talau, 22. Toby Rodwell
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