Just as they find some stability in their 'spine', NZ Warriors face upheaval in their forward pack, as they try to stretch their NRL winning streak to three games against North Queensland Cowboys on Friday.
Skipper Addin Fonua-Blake is under an injury cloud in the build-up to the encounter, named only on an extended bench, with hooker Wayde Egan carrying captaincy responsibilities in the starting line-up named by coach Nathan Brown.
The barnstorming middle forward can still force his way into the matchday squad, but must do so in the No.20 jersey.
Interchange star Jazz Tevaga will miss two weeks, after entering a guilty plea for dangerous contact during last week's win over Brisbane Broncos, while powerful Ben Murdoch-Masila suffered a leg injury early in his season debut and won't be available against the Cowboys.
With Tevaga and Murdoch-Masila missing, and Bunty Afoa replacing Fonua-Blake in the starting pack, Brown has beefed up his bench by switching Elisea Katoa to the interchange.
For the first time this season, he is able to name the same spine in successive matches, after using four different combinations to start the campaign. Veteran Shaun Johnson overcame injury to start alongside Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves last week, with Reece Walsh at fullback and Egan the only common factor through the first five games.
Warriors: 1-Reece Walsh, 2-Edward Kosi, 3-Jesse Arthars, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Bunty Afoa, 9-Wayde Egan (c), 10-Matt Lodge, 11-Euan Aitken, 12-Bayley Sironen, 13-Josh Curran
Interchange: 14-Kodi Nikorima, 15-Eliesa Katoa, 16-Aaron Pene, 17-Jack Murchie, 18-Taniela Otukolo, 20-Addin Fonua-Blake, 21-Rocco Berry, 22-Pride Petterson-Robati, 23-Junior Ratuva, 24 Viliami Vailea, 25 Otukinekina Kepu
Join us at 8pm Friday for live updates of the Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys NRL clash
More to come
