First SG Ball Cup line-up named to face Rabbitohs
Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Tue 31 Jan 2023, 04:03 pm
The One New Zealand Warriors have named their first squad of the year with the SG Ball Cup line-up announced to face South Sydney in the opening round of the renowned under-19 competition at Redfern Oval in Sydney on Sunday.
First-year coach Adam Blair and his staff started preparing their players in early November, building up for the campaign with one inter-squad trial in December and two more in the last two weeks.
This is just the second time the One New Zealand Warriors have played in the competition, famed for being the breeding ground for many of the game’s greatest players.
In their debut in 2020, the Warriors were in a share of second just one point behind the top side when Covid forced the cancellation of the competition.
For three years One New Zealand Warriors young hopefuls have been denied meaningful football due to Covid’s impact. With the SG Ball side restored for this season, Blair and his staff have been working with a group of players showing ample ability but yearning for competition at the highest level.
The first 2023 squad named includes some players who have represented the One New Zealand Warriors at rugby union’s World Schools Sevens and a number of players who have signed for the club despite also being highly regarded in the rugby union code.
The SG Ball Cup’s regular season comprises nine rounds ahead of the top four play-offs with the grand final in late April.
The One New Zealand Warriors have five home games against Manly (February 12), St George Illawarra (February 26), Sydney Roosters (March 12), Canterbury Bankstown (March 26) and Western Suburbs (April 2). Three will be played at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe with one each at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere and Mount Smart Stadium.
Their away games are against South Sydney, Melbourne, Newcastle and Penrith.
ONE NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
11.00am, Sunday, February 5, 2023
Redfern Oval, Sydney
ONE NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
1 RATU NABORISI
2 RAPHAEL SIO
3 PATRICK MOIMOI
4 SIALE FAEAMANI
5 SIO KALI
6 WILLIAM PILIU
7 SEFANAIA COWLEY-LUPO
8 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH
9 ETUATE FUKOFUKA
10 HARRY DURBIN
11
KAYLISS FATIALOFA
12 EDDIE IEREMIA
13
LEKA HALASIMA TUAKALU-TAVALU
Interchange:
14 JERIKO FILIPI
15 SIALE SIULANGAPO
16 RODNEY TUIPULOTU VEA
17 PRESLEY SEUMANU
18 JULIAN DRINNAN
Head coach | ADAM BLAIR
One New Zealand Warriors name SG Ball Cup team for opening round of 2023 competition.
www.warriors.kiwi