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NZ Warriors' squad mentality tested by injuries after win over Cowboys - RNZ
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<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image..._250503_WarriorsCowboysNRL_93_JPG?_a=BACCd2AD" width="1050" height="1108" alt="Rocco Berry for the Warriors v Cowboys, Magic Round."></p><p>
<span itemprop="caption">Rocco Berry's exit marked the switch in momentum against the Cowboys. </span>
<span>Photo: <span itemprop="copyrightHolder">NRL Photos/Photosport</span></span>
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<p><b>Warriors v Dragons</b></p>
<p>Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 10 May</p>
<p>WIN Stadium, Wollongong</p>
<p><i>Live blog updates on RNZ Sport</i></p>
<p>NZ Warriors centre Rocco Berry cannot buy a trick during an NRL season that has been disrupted by injury and suspension through the first 10 weeks.</p>
<p>Berry, 23, is among a long list of walking wounded to emerge from <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...iors-survive-big-cowboys-comeback-in-brisbane">last week's nailbiting 30-26 'Magic Round' win over North QLD Morons Cowboys</a> at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where the designated home side watched an 18-point lead all but evaporate over the closing half hour.</p>
<p>His exit from the contest in the 53rd minute with a hamstring tweak seemed to change the momentum, as the Cowboys scored three tries in the next 10 minutes - and had a fourth ruled out soon after - exploiting the Warriors rightside defence, where Berry was previously stationed.</p>
<p>Coach Andrew Webster admitted his line-up to face St George Dragons this week virtually picked itself through attrition, with Berry's niggle likely to keep him out a few weeks.</p>
<p>"He's not good," Webster confirmed. "He's definitely done a good one there.</p>
<p>"We got back, scanned it and got the results late last night. How long he'll be out for, we don't know.</p>
<p>"Whenever he builds momentum, something goes on him, but he'll bounce back and he's got a really good attitude about it all. He works hard, so I'm sure he'll be back soon."</p>
<p>Berry began the season recovering from a shoulder injury and was due to return against Wests Tigers in Round 4, but tweaked a hamstring in the build-up. He took the paddock against Melbourne Storm, but picked up a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle that kept him out against Brisbane Broncos.</p>
<p>His departure against North QLD Morons was exacerbated by the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...alent-cushions-massive-loss-of-nrl-experience">withdrawal of midfield partner Ali Leiataua with an ankle injury in training</a>. The powerful centre suffered an identical injury at Magic Round last year and was out for two months.</p>
<p>This looks like a repeat of that, perhaps 3-6 weeks.</p>
<p>"It's still quite raw," Webster said. "Someone just landed on his ankle and we thought he was going to be OK, but he just wasn't."</p>
<p>Try-scoring winger Ed Kosi wrenched his shoulder with a try-saving tackle against the Cowboys and played the rest of the game wounded, but his courage will now cost him time on the sideline.</p>
<p>"He's in a lot of pain," Webster said.</p>
<p>"Ed Kosi's probably one of the best carriers in the game - that's his strength - but he literally couldn't do it for the whole second half."</p>
<p>On the flip side, Webster has a few mended bodies back in the mix against the Dragons.</p>
<p>Interchange forward Jacob Laban returns from concussion protocols, while winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is available for the first time, after breaking a wrist in the pre-season. His inclusion at least enables Adam Pompey to return to his preferred midfield role, while second-rower Kurt Capewell covers the other spot.</p>
<p>Co-captain James Fisher-Harris was 50-50, after tearing a pec muscle in his chest against Melbourne Storm four weeks ago, but has not been included in the squad, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) has a chance to play, after he was named in the extended bench.</p>
<p>"One of the best things is the boys made a pact themselves that <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...hes-for-nz-warriors-against-newcastle-knights">they wanted to be a squad this year</a>," Webster said.</p>
<p>"It's going to be a squad that wins this, not just 17 players that play Round 1. We're certainly finding that out.</p>
<p>"We'll just name a team this arvo and do our best to see how they all come through, but in the end, I think it will be quite easy and they'll pick themselves."</p>
<p><b>Warriors:</b> 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Taine Tuaupiki, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 Jackson Ford, 9 Wayne Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark</p>
<p>Interchange: 14 Sam Healey, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Bunty Afoa</p>
<p>Reserves: 18 Te Maire Martin, 20 Tanah Boyd, 21 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava</p>
<p><a href="https://radionz.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=211a938dcf3e634ba2427dde9&id=b3d362e693">Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero,</a> <b>a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.</b></p>
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<div itemscope itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject">
<p><img loading="lazy" src="https://media.rnztools.nz/rnz/image..._250503_WarriorsCowboysNRL_93_JPG?_a=BACCd2AD" width="1050" height="1108" alt="Rocco Berry for the Warriors v Cowboys, Magic Round."></p><p>
<span itemprop="caption">Rocco Berry's exit marked the switch in momentum against the Cowboys. </span>
<span>Photo: <span itemprop="copyrightHolder">NRL Photos/Photosport</span></span>
</p>
</div>
<p><b>Warriors v Dragons</b></p>
<p>Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 10 May</p>
<p>WIN Stadium, Wollongong</p>
<p><i>Live blog updates on RNZ Sport</i></p>
<p>NZ Warriors centre Rocco Berry cannot buy a trick during an NRL season that has been disrupted by injury and suspension through the first 10 weeks.</p>
<p>Berry, 23, is among a long list of walking wounded to emerge from <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...iors-survive-big-cowboys-comeback-in-brisbane">last week's nailbiting 30-26 'Magic Round' win over North QLD Morons Cowboys</a> at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where the designated home side watched an 18-point lead all but evaporate over the closing half hour.</p>
<p>His exit from the contest in the 53rd minute with a hamstring tweak seemed to change the momentum, as the Cowboys scored three tries in the next 10 minutes - and had a fourth ruled out soon after - exploiting the Warriors rightside defence, where Berry was previously stationed.</p>
<p>Coach Andrew Webster admitted his line-up to face St George Dragons this week virtually picked itself through attrition, with Berry's niggle likely to keep him out a few weeks.</p>
<p>"He's not good," Webster confirmed. "He's definitely done a good one there.</p>
<p>"We got back, scanned it and got the results late last night. How long he'll be out for, we don't know.</p>
<p>"Whenever he builds momentum, something goes on him, but he'll bounce back and he's got a really good attitude about it all. He works hard, so I'm sure he'll be back soon."</p>
<p>Berry began the season recovering from a shoulder injury and was due to return against Wests Tigers in Round 4, but tweaked a hamstring in the build-up. He took the paddock against Melbourne Storm, but picked up a one-week ban for a dangerous tackle that kept him out against Brisbane Broncos.</p>
<p>His departure against North QLD Morons was exacerbated by the <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...alent-cushions-massive-loss-of-nrl-experience">withdrawal of midfield partner Ali Leiataua with an ankle injury in training</a>. The powerful centre suffered an identical injury at Magic Round last year and was out for two months.</p>
<p>This looks like a repeat of that, perhaps 3-6 weeks.</p>
<p>"It's still quite raw," Webster said. "Someone just landed on his ankle and we thought he was going to be OK, but he just wasn't."</p>
<p>Try-scoring winger Ed Kosi wrenched his shoulder with a try-saving tackle against the Cowboys and played the rest of the game wounded, but his courage will now cost him time on the sideline.</p>
<p>"He's in a lot of pain," Webster said.</p>
<p>"Ed Kosi's probably one of the best carriers in the game - that's his strength - but he literally couldn't do it for the whole second half."</p>
<p>On the flip side, Webster has a few mended bodies back in the mix against the Dragons.</p>
<p>Interchange forward Jacob Laban returns from concussion protocols, while winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is available for the first time, after breaking a wrist in the pre-season. His inclusion at least enables Adam Pompey to return to his preferred midfield role, while second-rower Kurt Capewell covers the other spot.</p>
<p>Co-captain James Fisher-Harris was 50-50, after tearing a pec muscle in his chest against Melbourne Storm four weeks ago, but has not been included in the squad, while Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) has a chance to play, after he was named in the extended bench.</p>
<p>"One of the best things is the boys made a pact themselves that <a href="https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/55...hes-for-nz-warriors-against-newcastle-knights">they wanted to be a squad this year</a>," Webster said.</p>
<p>"It's going to be a squad that wins this, not just 17 players that play Round 1. We're certainly finding that out.</p>
<p>"We'll just name a team this arvo and do our best to see how they all come through, but in the end, I think it will be quite easy and they'll pick themselves."</p>
<p><b>Warriors:</b> 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Taine Tuaupiki, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 Jackson Ford, 9 Wayne Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark</p>
<p>Interchange: 14 Sam Healey, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Bunty Afoa</p>
<p>Reserves: 18 Te Maire Martin, 20 Tanah Boyd, 21 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava</p>
<p><a href="https://radionz.us6.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=211a938dcf3e634ba2427dde9&id=b3d362e693">Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero,</a> <b>a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.</b></p>
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