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In a significant team change for the New Zealand Warriors, prop Tanner Stowers-Smith has been confirmed as the 18th man for the round seven clash against the Brisbane Broncos at Go Media Stadium. The 21-year-old Christchurch-raised player's advancement to the club’s top 30 NRL squad this season has put him on the brink of his NRL debut.
Stowers-Smith could potentially make his debut tonight, provided the circumstances allow the Warriors to activate their 18th man. This follows the omission of halfback Tanah Boyd, who was selected to play for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in the precursor match against the Dragons. This also saw Sam Healey, Freddy Lussick and Morgan Harper being dropped out of the extended squad.
The Warriors have had to make several changes to their squad due to injuries and suspension. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, co-captain James Fisher-Harris and centre Rocco Berry are all out. Coach Andrew Webster has had to reshuffle his squad, with Taine Tuaupiki moving from the right wing to fullback, Jackson Ford replacing Fisher-Harris in the front row, and Kurt Capewell moving into the centres for Berry.
Capewell has 14 starts in the centres in his career and has also played in this position at Origin level for QLD Morons. He was at centre for most of the second half against the Storm on Sunday after Nicoll-Klokstad was forced off the field.
The Warriors, unfortunately, are missing a total of 840 matches in NRL experience this week, with Fisher-Harris, Nicoll-Klokstad and Berry joining Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tom Ale on the unavailable list.
In brighter news, the most seasoned specialist back remaining, 26-year-old Tuakau-raised Adam Pompey, is set to play his 100th NRL game. Since his debut in the Warriors’ 19-18 win over Cronulla Sutherland in Wellington in 2019, Pompey has been one of the club’s quiet achievers. He is set to become the 31st player to reach the 100-game mark for the club and will join Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati and Bunty Afoa as the only players on the 100 list to have played their entire first-grade careers for the Warriors.
In their first home outing in four weeks, the Warriors' 30th-anniversary encounter with their original opponents will have a strong Pasifika flavour, reflecting the NRL’s Multicultural Round. The team will be donning a distinctive Pasifika-designed jersey, underlining the importance of cultural connection for the club.
The Warriors' Jersey Flegg Cup and New South Wales Cup teams will also play at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, as the team aims for their third consecutive NRL home win after earlier successes against Manly Warringah and the Sydney Roosters.
However, last Sunday saw a disappointing setback for the Warriors, with Melbourne’s first-half blitz leading to a 14-42 loss. The Warriors are now set to face a Brisbane side that is also smarting from a 16-26 loss to the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, leaving the Broncos on the same number of points as the Warriors (8).
Stowers-Smith could potentially make his debut tonight, provided the circumstances allow the Warriors to activate their 18th man. This follows the omission of halfback Tanah Boyd, who was selected to play for the club’s New South Wales Cup side in the precursor match against the Dragons. This also saw Sam Healey, Freddy Lussick and Morgan Harper being dropped out of the extended squad.
The Warriors have had to make several changes to their squad due to injuries and suspension. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, co-captain James Fisher-Harris and centre Rocco Berry are all out. Coach Andrew Webster has had to reshuffle his squad, with Taine Tuaupiki moving from the right wing to fullback, Jackson Ford replacing Fisher-Harris in the front row, and Kurt Capewell moving into the centres for Berry.
Capewell has 14 starts in the centres in his career and has also played in this position at Origin level for QLD Morons. He was at centre for most of the second half against the Storm on Sunday after Nicoll-Klokstad was forced off the field.
The Warriors, unfortunately, are missing a total of 840 matches in NRL experience this week, with Fisher-Harris, Nicoll-Klokstad and Berry joining Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tom Ale on the unavailable list.
In brighter news, the most seasoned specialist back remaining, 26-year-old Tuakau-raised Adam Pompey, is set to play his 100th NRL game. Since his debut in the Warriors’ 19-18 win over Cronulla Sutherland in Wellington in 2019, Pompey has been one of the club’s quiet achievers. He is set to become the 31st player to reach the 100-game mark for the club and will join Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati and Bunty Afoa as the only players on the 100 list to have played their entire first-grade careers for the Warriors.
In their first home outing in four weeks, the Warriors' 30th-anniversary encounter with their original opponents will have a strong Pasifika flavour, reflecting the NRL’s Multicultural Round. The team will be donning a distinctive Pasifika-designed jersey, underlining the importance of cultural connection for the club.
The Warriors' Jersey Flegg Cup and New South Wales Cup teams will also play at Go Media Stadium on Saturday, as the team aims for their third consecutive NRL home win after earlier successes against Manly Warringah and the Sydney Roosters.
However, last Sunday saw a disappointing setback for the Warriors, with Melbourne’s first-half blitz leading to a 14-42 loss. The Warriors are now set to face a Brisbane side that is also smarting from a 16-26 loss to the Roosters at Suncorp Stadium, leaving the Broncos on the same number of points as the Warriors (8).