NZ Warriors’ Tohu Harris done for season
Significant changes have been forced on the New Zealand Warriors for the Round 20 NRL clash against the Raiders in Canberra on Friday night.
Captain Tohu Harris, 32, is now out for the season after having surgery on a chronic wrist injury.
The veteran forward has been carrying the issue for most of the year, missing four games in the middle of the team’s campaign before returning to the field.
Harris was a late withdrawal in the round 18 loss to the Bulldogs and the decision was made to fully recover.
First-choice fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf) and winger Marcelo Montoya (groin)
have both been ruled out as they recover from injuries which saw them leave the field in
the heartbreaking 12-13 golden point loss to the Bulldogs on July 6.
Taine Tuaupiki comes in at fullback for his fifth NRL appearance of the season (and 10th
of his career) after last playing in the Magic Round victory over Penrith.
He was a late withdrawal for the match against the Dolphins to be with his partner for the
birth of their first child.
There’s a shuffle in the centres and on the wing with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck moving to the
left wing to replace Montoya while Ali Leiataua comes into the centres.
It will be the second time Tuivasa-Sheck has started on the wing this season while rookie
Leiataua will play his third NRL match after his last appearance – a try-scoring one – in
the win over the Panthers.
For the 21-year-old this Friday night’s match brings back memories of his fine first-grade
debut when the Warriors had a 36-14 win over Canberra at GIO Stadium on June 9 last
year.
Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has selected the same starting pack used against the Bulldogs with State of Origin representatives Mitchell Barnett (New South Wales) and Kurt Capewell (Queensland) both listed.
It is hoped they will be able to back up just 48 hours after tomorrow night’s series-deciding
Origin III blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
With Barnett making his Origin debut and Capewell playing his 11th match, it will be the
first time the Warriors have had two players in an Origin match since Jacob Lillyman
(Queensland) and Ryan Hoffman (New South Wales) lined up against each other in the
2015 series.
Webster has also named the same interchange bench used against the Bulldogs with the
newest Warrior Leka Halasima set for his second appearance after his brilliant debut two
weeks ago.
The Warriors and the Raiders are split by just one point on the ladder, the Raiders sitting
11th on 20 points and the Warriors 12th on 19 points.
Both teams come into the match refreshed from a bye after defeats in their last outings;
while Warriors went down to Canterbury Bankstown, Canberra had a 12-16 loss at home
to the Knights.
NZ WARRIORS: Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin; Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore, Kurt Capewell, Dylan Walker. Interchange: Freddy Lussick, Jackson Ford, Jazz Tevaga, Leka Halasima. Reserves: Tom Ale, Bunty Afoa, Edward Kosi, Moala Graham-Taufa, Jacob Laban
