The stage is set and the occasion is waiting as the top-four chasing Bulldogs travel to New Zealand to compete in Shaun Johnson’s emotional final game at home.
Johnson, 33, announced 2024 would be his final season earlier this month and will play the final game in front of his home crowd tonight against the Bulldogs.
Go Media Stadium, the Warriors’ home ground, has aptly been renamed Shaun Johnson Stadium to honour both the occasion, and the man who brought them within 80 minutes of Grand Final glory in his debut season.
Their task is not easy – taking on an in-form Bulldogs side fighting for a berth in the NRL top four at season’s end.
Canterbury will be without the industrious Josh Curran, who has been one of their standout players this season, although Max King is named for his first game since Round 18, when the Bulldogs narrowly beat the Warriors in a controversial contest at Accor Stadium.
TEAMS
WARRIORS: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Luke Metcalf 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 16. Jazz Tevaga 10. Mitchell Barnett 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 11. Marata Niukore 14. Freddy Lussick 17. Demitric Sifakula 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita
BULLDOGS: 1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 10. Samuel Hughes 9. Reed Mahoney 23. Max King 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jacob Preston 13. Kurt Mann 14. Bailey Hayward 15. Kurtis Morrin 16. Harry Hayes 17. Jaeman Salmon
