Halves Combination for Rabbitohs Clash
The One New Zealand Warriors will feature a new halves pairing for their round 25 NRL clash against the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Sydney. Chanel Harris-Tavita will take on the halfback role, wearing the number seven jersey, while rookie Luke Hanson is set to play at standoff in the number six jersey. This combination marks the sixth different halves pairing for the Warriors this season.
Harris-Tavita’s move to halfback follows an injury to Luke Metcalf, who sustained a hamstring injury during last Saturday night’s match against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium. Metcalf has been ruled out until the finals, missing the remaining three regular season games against the Rabbitohs, Knights, and Sea Eagles. Harris-Tavita recently signed a contract extension with the club.
Player Movements and Injuries
Harris-Tavita becomes the fourth starting halfback for the Warriors this year. Other players who have filled the role, including Tanah Boyd, Te Maire Martin, and Metcalf, are currently on the injured list. Boyd played 10 games, Martin played 9 games, and Metcalf played 2 games before their respective injuries.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who previously played in the halves during the 42-6 win over the Broncos, was not available for selection this week. He is serving a two-match suspension due to a dangerous contact charge. His absence further necessitated changes to the team’s lineup for the upcoming game.
Hanson, at 22 years old, will be making only his second appearance in first grade. His debut occurred in round three against the Knights, where he scored a try in the 38-12 win. Outside of his sole previous first-grade outing, Hanson has made 15 appearances for the club’s New South Wales Cup side this season. He reached his 50-game milestone with a try in last Saturday’s 18-12 win over the Sea Eagles.
Hanson is noted for his defensive play, maintaining a tackling efficiency rate of 96.35 per cent, with only seven missed tackles this season. He averages 80 running metres per game.
Team Lineup and Match Details
With Nicoll-Klokstad suspended, Taine Tuaupiki returns as the starting fullback. The rest of the lineup remains unchanged from the team that played against the Broncos. This includes Erin Clark, who plays loose forward, and hooker Wayde Egan, both of whom have played every game this year.
The six-man bench for the Warriors includes hooker Sam Healey, middle forwards Tanner Stowers-Smith, Demitric Vaimauga, and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, centre Adam Pompey, and second rower Morgan Gannon. The extended bench features halfback Jett Cleary, winger Luke Laulilii, and hooker Makaia Tafua.
The Warriors are currently level on 36 points with second-placed Penrith as they head into round 25, with only a marginal difference in points differential. Their opponents, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, are sitting seventh on the ladder after a 22-6 victory over the Bulldogs last week. The match is scheduled for Saturday at Accor Stadium in Sydney, with a 5.30pm local time kick-off, which is 7.30pm NZT.
The Warriors team to play the Rabbitohs is:
- 1. Taine Tuaupiki
- 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
- 3. Ali Leiataua
- 4. Leka Halasima
- 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira
- 6. Luke Hanson
- 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita
- 8. James Fisher-Harris
- 9. Wayde Egan
- 10. Mitchell Barnett
- 11. Kurt Capewell
- 12. Jacob Laban
- 13. Erin Clark
Interchange players are Sam Healey (14), Tanner Stowers-Smith (15), Demitric Vaimauga (16), and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (17). Additional players listed are Adam Pompey (18) and Morgan Gannon (20).
Source: rnz.co.nz
