NZ Warriors will be bolstered by the return of star fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for their trip across the Tasman to face South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday.
Nicoll-Klokstad is yet to feature this season due to a hamstring injury but will make his 2024 debut at Allianz Stadium against the Rabbitohs this weekend.
He'll reclaim the No. 1 jersey from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who shifts back to the centres after his stand-out performance during Sunday's win over Newcastle Knights.
Coach Andrew Webster has opted for Te Maire Martin ahead of Chanel Harris-Tavita to partner Shaun Johnson in the halves, after confirmation Luke Metcalf will be sidelined for an extended period to recover from a broken tibia.
Martin is yet to earm selection for the first-grade side this year but has starred for the reserve side, making three line break assists, two try assists, 26 runs for 144 metres and 24 tackles without a miss in their win over the Knights on Sunday.
Harris-Tavita impressed off the bench as a substitute for the injured Metcalf against the Knights with a try and an assist but has been relegated to the reserves.
The Warriors will also be without forwards Kurt Capewell and Dylan Walker against South Sydney.
Capewell played the full 80 minutes on Sunday but later reported headaches and has been stood down, as the club follows concussion protocols. He'll be replaced by Marata Niukore in the run-on side.
Walker was named for the last two matches against Canberra and Newcastle but was a late withdrawal both times due to an ankle complaint. He hasn’t been selected this week with Jazz Tevaga, his replacement against the Raiders and Knights, this week named on the interchange.
The 16th-placed Rabbitohs have made a slow start to their cmapiagn, dropping their opening three games before bouncing back against Canterbury Bulldogs last weekend.
NZ Warriors: 1-Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2-Dallin Watene-Zelzniak, 3-Rocco Berry, 4-Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Te Maire Martin, 7-Shaun Johnson 8-Addin Fonua-Blake, 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Mitchell Barnett, 11-Jackson Ford, 12-Marata Niukore, 13-Tohu Harris
Interchange: 14-Freddy Lussick, 15-Tom Ale, 16-Bunty Afoa, 17-Jazz Tevaga, 18-Adam Pompey, 20-Jacob Laban, 21-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 22-Edward Kosi, 23-Ali Leiataua
