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Confirmed Lineup: Late changes - warriors.kiwi
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<p>Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith becomes the latest of the One New Zealand Warriors’ home-grown new breed to make his debut while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck starts on the wing in today’s round 11 NRL match against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).</p>
<p>The late changes confirmed by head coach Andrew Webster an hour before kick-off see Kurt Capewell reverting to the centres after being listed in the second row in the updated lineup at the 24-hour deadline.</p>
<p>That in turn brings Marata Niukore back into the second row after being switched to the interchange last night with 21-year-old Stowers-Smith brought onto the bench after being listed as 19th man in the revised squad.</p>
<p>With Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing, where he started the season in the first three rounds, fill-in winger Taine Tuaupiki is moved to 19th man.</p>
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<p>Christchurch-born and raised Stowers-Smith, the great grandson of renowned Kiwi Pat Smith, will become Kiwi #292, the third player to make his club debut this season after co-captain and Kiwi skipper James Fisher-Harris and hooker Sam Healey.</p>
<p>He’s the fifth player from this year’s NRL squad to graduate from the Warriors’ pathways system since 2023 to make his first-grade debut following on from centre Ali Leiataua, prop-second rower Demitric Vaimauga and back rowers Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima.</p>
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<p>Stowers-Smith joins fellow 21-year-olds Vaimauga and Laban on one of the youngest interchange combinations in the club’s history.</p>
<p>Only two years ago Stowers-Smith captained the club’s side in the SG Ball Cup under-19 competition before moving up to the New South Wales Cup side for the bulk of the year.</p>
<p>Curiously he was one of eight players bearing hyphenated names in the Warriors’ 22-man squad named on Tuesday for the match against the Dolphins. As well as Stowers-Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck and Fisher-Harris, the others named were Charnze Nicoll-Klostad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Moala Graham-Taufa.</p>
<p>Tuivasa-Sheck’s move to the wing enables Webster to field his first-choice back three for the first time this season alongside fullback Nicholl-Klokstad and winger Watene-Zelezniak.</p>
<p>As well as Tuivasa-Sheck, today’s match marks another significant comeback with Fisher-Harris back in harness after suffering a pectoral strain early in the round six match against Melbourne on April 13.</p>
<p>While the veterans are back, the Warriors have lost middle forwards Bunty Afoa (knee) and Jackson Ford (concussion).</p>
<p>The Warriors are holding second spot on the ladder with a 7-2 record matching the club’s best start to a season first achieved in 2002 and emulated in 2018.</p>
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<p>After a run of three consecutive wins earlier in the season against Manly-Warringah, the Roosters and Wests Tigers, they’ve now rebounded from their heavy loss to the Storm with four wins on end against Brisbane (20-18), Newcastle (26-12), North QLD Morons (30-26) and St George Illawarra (15-14).</p>
<p>Halfback Luke Metcalf lifted his season’s points tally to 79 with a try, two conversions, a penalty and the match-winning field goal against the Dragons. He’s comfortably the team’s leading try score with seven in nine games.</p>
<p>This will be the fifth time the Warriors have met the Dolphins since the QLD Morons side was added to the competition in 2023.</p>
<p>While the Warriors have won both contests at Go Media Stadium – 30-8 in 2023 and 24-20 last year – the Dolphins have taken out both clashes at Suncorp Stadium (34-10 and 34-32).</p>
<p>The Dolphins sit 13th on the ladder with four wins and six losses but had a 20-16 win over Parramatta last weekend to bounce back from defeats by Canberra and the Roosters.</p>
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<p>Prop Tanner Stowers-Smith becomes the latest of the One New Zealand Warriors’ home-grown new breed to make his debut while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck starts on the wing in today’s round 11 NRL match against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).</p>
<p>The late changes confirmed by head coach Andrew Webster an hour before kick-off see Kurt Capewell reverting to the centres after being listed in the second row in the updated lineup at the 24-hour deadline.</p>
<p>That in turn brings Marata Niukore back into the second row after being switched to the interchange last night with 21-year-old Stowers-Smith brought onto the bench after being listed as 19th man in the revised squad.</p>
<p>With Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing, where he started the season in the first three rounds, fill-in winger Taine Tuaupiki is moved to 19th man.</p>
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<p>Christchurch-born and raised Stowers-Smith, the great grandson of renowned Kiwi Pat Smith, will become Kiwi #292, the third player to make his club debut this season after co-captain and Kiwi skipper James Fisher-Harris and hooker Sam Healey.</p>
<p>He’s the fifth player from this year’s NRL squad to graduate from the Warriors’ pathways system since 2023 to make his first-grade debut following on from centre Ali Leiataua, prop-second rower Demitric Vaimauga and back rowers Jacob Laban and Leka Halasima.</p>
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<source media="(max-width: 28.25em)" srcset="https://www.warriors.kiwi/siteasset...enter=0.24,0.39&preset=photo-inline-small">
<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.warriors.kiwi/siteasset....jpg?center=0.24,0.39&preset=photo-inline">
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<p>Stowers-Smith joins fellow 21-year-olds Vaimauga and Laban on one of the youngest interchange combinations in the club’s history.</p>
<p>Only two years ago Stowers-Smith captained the club’s side in the SG Ball Cup under-19 competition before moving up to the New South Wales Cup side for the bulk of the year.</p>
<p>Curiously he was one of eight players bearing hyphenated names in the Warriors’ 22-man squad named on Tuesday for the match against the Dolphins. As well as Stowers-Smith, Tuivasa-Sheck and Fisher-Harris, the others named were Charnze Nicoll-Klostad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava and Moala Graham-Taufa.</p>
<p>Tuivasa-Sheck’s move to the wing enables Webster to field his first-choice back three for the first time this season alongside fullback Nicholl-Klokstad and winger Watene-Zelezniak.</p>
<p>As well as Tuivasa-Sheck, today’s match marks another significant comeback with Fisher-Harris back in harness after suffering a pectoral strain early in the round six match against Melbourne on April 13.</p>
<p>While the veterans are back, the Warriors have lost middle forwards Bunty Afoa (knee) and Jackson Ford (concussion).</p>
<p>The Warriors are holding second spot on the ladder with a 7-2 record matching the club’s best start to a season first achieved in 2002 and emulated in 2018.</p>
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<picture>
<source media="(max-width: 28.25em)" srcset="https://www.warriors.kiwi/siteasset...enter=0.28,0.42&preset=photo-inline-small">
<img loading="lazy" src="https://www.warriors.kiwi/siteasset....jpg?center=0.28,0.42&preset=photo-inline">
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<p>After a run of three consecutive wins earlier in the season against Manly-Warringah, the Roosters and Wests Tigers, they’ve now rebounded from their heavy loss to the Storm with four wins on end against Brisbane (20-18), Newcastle (26-12), North QLD Morons (30-26) and St George Illawarra (15-14).</p>
<p>Halfback Luke Metcalf lifted his season’s points tally to 79 with a try, two conversions, a penalty and the match-winning field goal against the Dragons. He’s comfortably the team’s leading try score with seven in nine games.</p>
<p>This will be the fifth time the Warriors have met the Dolphins since the QLD Morons side was added to the competition in 2023.</p>
<p>While the Warriors have won both contests at Go Media Stadium – 30-8 in 2023 and 24-20 last year – the Dolphins have taken out both clashes at Suncorp Stadium (34-10 and 34-32).</p>
<p>The Dolphins sit 13th on the ladder with four wins and six losses but had a 20-16 win over Parramatta last weekend to bounce back from defeats by Canberra and the Roosters.</p>
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