Mitch Barnett is the last piece in the Warriors line-up against South Sydney. Photo: DAVE HUNT/AAP
Warriors v Rabbitohs
Kickoff 4pm Sunday, 1 June
Accor Stadium, Sydney
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
For the first time this season, NZ Warriors may have a full squad to choose from against South Sydney Rabbitohs, which means some familiar faces are relegated back to reserve grade this weekend.
After shuffling his line-ups to cover a host of injuries among backs and forwards, coach Andrew Webster has had to make some painful decisions around those who have filled in and helped the club to a solid 8-3 start to their 2025 campaign, good for third on the NRL table.
"I get an injury report every Monday and you should see how many niggles these boys carry, so it's not clean, but they're available for selection," Webster explained.
The return of wingers Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wrist) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) saw Taine Tuaupiki drop from the gameday squad two weeks ago.
The absence of front-rower James Fisher-Harris (pec) opened up a spot for teenage sensation Leka Halasima in the starting pack, but he has been named back on the bench against Souths.
After deploying veteran second-rower Kurt Capewell in the midfield, Webster now has the luxury of three front-line centres, with Capewell shifted to his preferred role and Rocco Berry (hamstring) supplanting Ali Leiataua, who started the season-opener, but returned from a four-week ankle sprain last week.
If co-captain Mitch Barnett can back up after the State of Origin opener on Wednesday, Webster will have the luxury of a full-strength starting line-up, something that eluded him all of last season.
Taine Tuaupiki in action for the Warriors against the Cowboys. Photo: NRL Photos/Photosport
"The morning after, we'll see how he pulls up or it could be a day later after that, but we'll give him every chance," Webster said of Barnett. "If he pulls up well, he'll play, but if he doesn't, we won't play him."
Another to drop off the radar is prop Bunty Afoa, who covered for Barnett in the starting line-up last week, but couldn't make the 22-man squad this time around, while forward Jacob Laban is also on the outside looking in.
Winger Ed Kosi is back from a shoulder injury suffered against North Queensland at 'Magic Round', hooker Sam Healey and second-rower Tanner Stowers-Smith have debuted for the club this season, while utility Tanah Boyd - a 69-game veteran for Gold Coast Titans - is still awaiting his first opportunity in a new jersey.
"It's difficult for them and it's difficult for me, because they're probably frustrated they're not playing, but it's great for our club that we have that depth," Webster said. "They're quality players and if we do have to call on them at any stage, or if they force their way into the team, that's exciting.
"It's difficult that someone's got to miss out, but it's great for the club that we've got that depth."
Webster and his players have preached a 'next man up' mentality through the early rounds, and that philosophy has served them well until now, but this day was always likely to arrive.
Kurt Capewell lays down the law to the Warriors. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
The call between Leiataua and Berry would have been particularly close, after the latter missed the first three weeks with a shoulder injury, strained a hamstring before his scheduled return against Wests Tigers, copped a suspension when he finally took the field against Melbourne Storm and then tweaked a hammy again against the Cowboys.
Last week, as the Warriors lost to Canberra Raiders, Webster lamented his team's inability to contain the opposition back five. Leiataua, 22, missed a crucial tackle on opposite Sebastian Kris that led to the Raiders' first try.
"I was just really excited for Ali to go back and get some footy in [reserve grade]," Webster said. "For a young player, he's done a terrific job for where he's at in his career.
"I don't think he'd even be 20 games into his career yet and he's done a fantastic job. I just want him to go back and work on a few things, and when he comes back into NRL, I think everyone will be really excited.
"Rocco Berry gets his opportunity to come back into the team and it's an opportunity to get Kurt hopefully consistently back to the back row.
"Tough calls are good for your club, because it means everyone's available and people are in good form. Tough decision, but a good headache to have."
The other key selection this week restores Halasima to the interchange spot where he began the season, before erupting with three tries in three consecutive games to herald his arrival on the scene.
In six starting appearances, the 19-year-old second-rower has averaged 69 minutes, including three complete 80-minute performances. He may yet start against the Rabbitohs, if Barnett can't recover in time.
Leka Halasima and Ali Leiataua celebrate a try against Brisbane Broncos. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
"The thing for Leka is, to be playing 80 minutes at his age and how many games he's played in his career is unbelievable, especially with the fatigue in the game," Webster said.
"He's done a terrific job, but with these young players, you have to bring them on at the right speed. Having Kurt and Marata [Niukore] back in the back row give Leka that opportunity that, when he comes on, he can really explode, instead of trying to be a workhorse.
"He'll get that as his game progresses, he'll be able to nail 80 minutes."
Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Rocco Berry, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark
Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Leka Halasima, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Jackson Ford
Reserves: 18 Jacob Laban, 20 Sam Healey, 21 Tanah Boyd, 22 Tanner Stowers-Smith
