Team Update: Leiataua cleared
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<p>Centre Ali Leiataua has been confirmed to make his return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 12 match against the Canberra Raiders at Go Media Stadium on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off).</p>
<p>His comeback sees stand-in captain Kurt Capewell move out of the centres back into his customary position in the second row.</p>
<p>Marata Niukore has been switched from the second row to prop with Jackson Ford now listed on the interchange with last week’s debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith named as 19th man.</p>
<p>The other player retained in the 19-man game day squad is halfback Tanah Boyd while the three omitted from the extended bench at the 24-hour deadline are Tom Ale, Sam Healey and Taine Tuaupiki.</p>
<p>The changes mean Niukore and Bunty Afoa are now listed as the Warriors’ starting props in the absence of co-captains Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris.</p>
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<p>The Warriors go into their first match at home in five weeks on the back of five straight wins over Brisbane, Newcastle, North Queensland, St George Illawarra and the Dolphins. Their 8-2 record matches the club’s previous best starts to a season in 2018 and 2002 but is still short of the mark of 11-2 created by the 2002 side in the opening 13 rounds that year.</p>
<p>This will be the 53rd meeting between the Warriors and Canberra, 13 weeks on from the Las Vegas season opener which finished in a disappointing 8-30 loss for the Warriors.</p>
<p>Since then they have had an 8-1 record in a campaign highlighted by a series of tight and tense wins.</p>
<p>Following five consecutive wins over the Sharks, Eels, Titans, Dolphins and Storm, Canberra lost to the Bulldogs before rebounding with 40-24 victory over Gold Coast last Sunday.</p>
<p>Like the Warriors they have lost one player to State of Origin selection with back rower Hudson Young joining Barnett in the New South Wales squad.</p> </div>
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<p>Centre Ali Leiataua has been confirmed to make his return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ round 12 match against the Canberra Raiders at Go Media Stadium on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off).</p>
<p>His comeback sees stand-in captain Kurt Capewell move out of the centres back into his customary position in the second row.</p>
<p>Marata Niukore has been switched from the second row to prop with Jackson Ford now listed on the interchange with last week’s debutant Tanner Stowers-Smith named as 19th man.</p>
<p>The other player retained in the 19-man game day squad is halfback Tanah Boyd while the three omitted from the extended bench at the 24-hour deadline are Tom Ale, Sam Healey and Taine Tuaupiki.</p>
<p>The changes mean Niukore and Bunty Afoa are now listed as the Warriors’ starting props in the absence of co-captains Mitchell Barnett and James Fisher-Harris.</p>
</div><div>
<p>The Warriors go into their first match at home in five weeks on the back of five straight wins over Brisbane, Newcastle, North Queensland, St George Illawarra and the Dolphins. Their 8-2 record matches the club’s previous best starts to a season in 2018 and 2002 but is still short of the mark of 11-2 created by the 2002 side in the opening 13 rounds that year.</p>
<p>This will be the 53rd meeting between the Warriors and Canberra, 13 weeks on from the Las Vegas season opener which finished in a disappointing 8-30 loss for the Warriors.</p>
<p>Since then they have had an 8-1 record in a campaign highlighted by a series of tight and tense wins.</p>
<p>Following five consecutive wins over the Sharks, Eels, Titans, Dolphins and Storm, Canberra lost to the Bulldogs before rebounding with 40-24 victory over Gold Coast last Sunday.</p>
<p>Like the Warriors they have lost one player to State of Origin selection with back rower Hudson Young joining Barnett in the New South Wales squad.</p> </div>
