New signing Daejarn Asi has walked straight onto an extended NZ Warriors bench, as they try to regroup from their Anzac Day debacle against Canberra Raiders.
Less than 24 hours after a record 70-10 mauling from Melbourne Storm, coach Nathan Brown has had to pick through the rubble to name an extended squad for Saturday's home game against the Raiders.
Four frontline players - winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniack (concussion), Josh Curran (injury), Kodi Nikorima (COVID-19) and Aaron Pene (suspension) - were unavailable, with winger Edward Kosi virtually unpickable, after an error-plagued performance against the Storm.
Brown has named Rocco Berry and Viliami Vailea - starting centres in their season-opener against St George Dragons - on the wings, with Bayley Sironen installed in the second row to replace Curran.
Sironen was named in last week's starting line-up, but replaced by Jazz Tevaga before the Storm fixture.
Asi's signing was only finalised on Tuesday, just in time to make the extended 24-man squad. The 21-year-old Christchurch-born half has 10 first-grade appearances with North Queensland Cowboys on his resume, after debuting in 2020.
Warriors: 1-Reece Walsh, 2-Rocco Berry, 3-Jesse Arthars, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Viliami Vailea, 6-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7-Shaun Johnson, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake (C), 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Matt Lodge, 11-Euan Aitken, 12-Bayley Sironen, 13-Jazz Tevaga
Extended Bench: 14-Taniela Otukolo, 15-Bunty Afoa, 16-Eliesa Katoa, 17-Jack Murchie, 18-Edward Kosi, 20-Ben Murdoch-Masila, 21-Daejarn Asi, 22-Pride Petterson-Robati, 23-Junior Ratuva, 24-Valingi Kepu, 25-Jackson Frei
Join us at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Raiders NRL clash
