With the club’s SG Ball Cup side out of finals contention, the One New Zealand Warriors have moved several of their under-19 players into the Jersey Flegg Cup (under-21) team for Sunday’s fourth-round clash against Newcastle at Go Media Stadium (1.30pm kick-off).
It’s an illustration of the club using its pathways programme to develop players in a higher grade.
Called up are under-19 regulars in fullback Motu Pasikala, centre Sio Kali, front rower Rodney Tuipulotu-Vea and second rowers Kayliss Fatialofa and Alvin Chong Nee, Fatialofa named to start and Chong Nee included on the interchange.
Their selections come in a week when Jersey Flegg captain Harry Durbin and SG Ball co-captain Jaydee Auloa have both been promoted to the club’s NRL reserve grade side in the New South Wales Cup.
The impact of the One New Zealand Warriors’ development system can be seen in the make-up of the Jersey Flegg side this week.
Match: Warriors v Knights
Round 4 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Knights
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Motu PasikalaFullback for Knights is number 1 Corey Thomas
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Winger for Warriors is number 2 Garry TuilekutuWinger for Knights is number 2 Jeremy Trappett
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Centre for Warriors is number 3 Sialetili FaeamaniCentre for Knights is number 3 Wilson De Courcey
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Centre for Warriors is number 4 Sio KaliCentre for Knights is number 4 Jarome Falemoe
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Winger for Warriors is number 5 Nehemiah AmoroaWinger for Knights is number 5 Siaosi Kaliti
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Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Luke HansonFive-Eighth for Knights is number 6 Travis May
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Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Phranklyn MANO-LE-MAMEAHalfback for Knights is number 7 Liam Sutton
Forwards
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Prop for Warriors is number 8 rodney tuipulotuveaProp for Knights is number 8 Blake Woodford
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Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Etuate FukofukaHooker for Knights is number 9 Jacob Davis
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Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tobias CrosbyProp for Knights is number 10 Rory Whitby
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kayliss Fatialofa2nd Row for Knights is number 11 Tamakaimoana Whareaorere
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2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Presley Seumanu Tigafua2nd Row for Knights is number 12 Jayden Harris
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Lock for Warriors is number 13 Ieti SamueluLock for Knights is number 13 Jack Cullen
Interchange
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Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Alvin Chong NeeInterchange for Knights is number 14 Harry Reid
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Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Caleb LaimanInterchange for Knights is number 15 Edward Finau
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Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Ben PeniInterchange for Knights is number 16 Kane Graham
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Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Harry DurbinInterchange for Knights is number 17 Taj Ridley
Reserves
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Replacement for Warriors is number 17 Robin HerbertReplacement for Knights is number 18 Tea-Rani Woodman Tuhoro
Last updated:
While Durbin has moved up, the lineup includes another six players who represented the club’s SG Ball side last year – centre Siale Faeamani, halfback Phranklyn Mani Le Mamea, hooker Etuate Fukofuka, second rower Presley Seumanu and bench players Ben Peni and William Piliu.
Sunday’s clash against the Knights will be a tough baptism for the players coming up a grade.
In their first three Jersey Flegg outings the Warriors have been on the wrong side of big losses to Cronulla Sutherland, Melbourne and Canberra as they players are exposed to and extended by a higher intensity of football.
The Knights will be equally demanding opponents. They sit fourth on the table after recovering from an 18-30 first-round loss to Canberra by beating St George Illawarra 28-4 and Melbourne 34-12 in the last two rounds.
The Jersey Flegg Cup contest kicks off a feast of football at Go Media Stadium on Easter Sunday with the One New Zealand Warriors then taking on the Knights in the New South Wales Cup (3.20pm kick-off) before the NRL battle at 6.05pm.
