Outgoing Warrior back in team
Chanel Harris-Tavita is back for the Warriors in a much-needed boost for the struggling NRL club.
Harris-Tavita, who confirmed on Monday that he will walk away from the club and take a break from professional rugby league next season, has been sidelined after suffering a ruptured testicle in the hefty loss to the Melbourne Storm last month.
His return goes someway to off-setting the latest injury blow for the Warriors with pack leader Addin Fonua-Blake out for an indefinite period with a serious foot injury.
Looking to bounce back from another underwhelming loss following last Saturday’s 24-18 defeat to the Dragons, the Warriors take on fellow strugglers the Newcastle Knights on Saturday.
Mid-season signing Daejarn Asi has moved back to the extended bench to make way for Harris-Tavita who will partner Shaun Johnson in the halves.
With the massive absence of Fonua-Blake, the Warriors have
lost an average of 155 run metres, 25 tackles a game and the club’s most dangerous off-loading threat for the Indigenous Round clash and beyond. Matt Lodge’s sudden departure, two days before the loss to the Dragons, only adds to the middle forward crisis.
Warriors coach Nathan Brown has named last week’s starting hooker, Jazz Tevaga, to partner Ben Murdoch-Masila at prop.
Dunamis Lui, who was only signed by the club on Monday, has been named on an extended bench so could make his debut against the Knights. But Lui’s best is a long way from FonuaBlake’s.
Wayde Egan is again out with his calf injury this week with Freddy Lussick to start at hooker and Taniela Otukolo on the interchange bench.
Josh Curran (knee) and Bayley Sironen (groin) are not yet ready to return either.
Desperate to score their fifth win of the season, the Warriors – playing at home in Redcliffe – are effectively in a must-win situation against the Knights who sit behind them on the NRL ladder.
Since winning their first two games of the season, the Knights have imploded and managed only one win – over the Bulldogs – in their last nine NRL matches.