NZ Warriors have been hit with another unfortunate injury, losing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad just hours before Sunday night's Indigenous Round clash against the Dolphins at Auckland.
Originally named to play at five-eighth after his impressive showing in the position against Penrith Panthers, Nicoll-Klokstad was moved to centre, when Andrew Webster's side lost centre Rocco Berry due to a hand injury.
However, Nicoll-Klokstad has now been withdrawn due to illness, handing an NRL debut to youngster Moala Graham-Taufa.
Taine Tuaupiki has also become a late scratch due to the arrival of his first child, shifting Dallin Watene-Zelezniak across to fullback and Edward Kosi to the wing.
The Marist Saints junior has scored 14 tries in 33 appearances for the Warriors' New South Wales Cup squad, including five in nine games in 2024 while averaging 152 metres.
Graham-Taufa junior came through the Sydney Roosters' system making his NRL debut against South Sydney in 2021, his only appearance until now, when he was briefly used as 18th man.
Elsewhere, front-row partner Bunty Afoa has switched sides to replace Addin Fonua-Blake, who has been stood down for breaching club standards in last week's win over the Penrith Panthers.
The Warriors are already without stars Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, as well as captain Tohu Harris.
Warriors: 1-Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 22- Edward Kosi, 23- Moala Graham-Taufa, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 20-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7-Te Maire Martin, 17-Marata Niukore, 18-Paul Roache, 10-Bunty Afoa, 11-Jackson Ford, 12-Mitch Barnett, 13-Dylan Walker
Interchange: 9-Freddy Lussick, 14-Tom Ale, 15-Jazz Tevaga, 16-Jacob Laban
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