Marata Niukore, Rocco Berry, Freddy Lussick and Chanel Harris-Tavita return from injury for the One New Zealand Warriors’ Indigenous Round encounter with the Dolphins at the temporarily named Te pā o Rarotonga on Sunday (6.05pm kick-off; game day partners: Warriors Community Foundation and Kidz First).
Centre Berry (hand), second rower Niukore (foot), hooker Lussick (concussion) and utility Harris-Tavita (calf) have been named in the extended squad for the club’s first match on home soil since the Anzac Day contest against the Gold Coast Titans.
While those four players come off the injury list, hooker Wayde Egan (concussion) and centre Ali Leiataua (ankle) join the casualties.
Egan is following NRL protocols after a head knock early in Sunday’s clash against the Panthers forced him out of the contest. With the club having a bye in round 13, Egan will be in line to make his return for the away match against North Queensland on June 8.
Rookie Leiataua, playing just his second NRL fixture, was a try-scoring hero in the 22-20 win over the Panthers but picked up an ankle injury which is set to keep him out until early July.
Along with Egan and Leiataua, captain Tohu Harris, halfback Shaun Johnson, centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, second rower Kurt Capewell and standoff Luke Metcalf remain in recovery.
With some reinforcements coming back, One New Zealand Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has Berry back in the centres, where he has been for 10 of the club’s 11 games this year, while Lussick is named to start at hooker, Niukore on the interchange and Harris-Tavita on the extended bench.
The powerful Niukore is eyeing just his second game of the season after last playing in the round four home win against Newcastle. Harris-Tavita’s last outing was the round six draw with Manly Warringah.
With Johnson out, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad is again named at standoff and Taine Tuaupiki at fullback with Dylan Walker starting at loose forward for the unavailable Harris. Mitchell Barnett will captain the side this week.
The Dolphins head to Auckland in strong form, having won their last three games and seven in all to sit fourth on the ladder on 16 points.
The Warriors’ exhilarating and courageous performance against the three-times premiership-winning Penrith Panthers ended a tough series of three matches in Australia.
