Kurt Capewell Out; Tanah Boyd Returns for Warriors’ Clash Against Dragons

The NZ Warriors will face the St George Illawarra Dragons on Friday without the services of State of Origin star Kurt Capewell, who will miss the match due to concussion. In his absence, halfback Tanah Boyd has returned to the starting line-up after being a last-minute omission in the previous game against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Capewell left the field during the 60th minute for a head assessment but was cleared to return with five minutes remaining. Unfortunately, his recovery has not progressed as expected, leading to his exclusion from this crucial match. In a shift to the team dynamics, Leka Halasima, a promising young player, will fill Capewell’s spot in the second row, while rookie Eddie Ieremia-Toeava has been elevated to the interchange bench. Additionally, hooker Wayde Egan returns from a shoulder injury, taking the place of Freddy Lussick.

Team Changes for the Dragons

The Dragons have also made adjustments following their victory over the Cronulla Sharks last weekend. Centre Mat Feagai is back in action after recovering from a groin injury, replacing Moses Suli, who is sidelined with a knee issue. Prop Michael Molo has returned from an ankle injury, and young player Loko Pasifiki Tonga is named in the squad for the first time since Round 18.

The NZ Warriors currently sit fifth on the NRL table, just two points ahead of the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks. The Dolphins and Sydney Roosters are closely trailing in eighth and ninth positions, respectively. In contrast, the Dragons rank eleventh, four points outside the playoff spots but have recently secured wins against top teams like the Canberra Raiders and Cronulla.

As the teams prepare for the match, both sides will be looking to solidify their standings in the league. The Warriors aim to maintain their playoff position, while the Dragons seek to close the gap on the top eight.

The anticipated line-ups are as follows:

Warriors:
1. Taine Tuaupiki
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Adam Pompey
4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita
7. Tanah Boyd
8. James Fisher-Harris
9. Wayde Egan
10. Jackson Ford
11. Leka Halasima
12. Marata Niukore
13. Erin Clark

Interchange:
14. Sam Healey
15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
16. Demetric Vaimauga
17. Tanner Stowers-Smith

Reserves:
18. Freddy Lussick
20. Ed Kosi
21. Tom Ale
22. Kayliss Fatialofa
25. Bunty Afoa

Dragons:
1. Clint Gutherson
2. Tyrell Sloan
3. Hayden Buchanan
4. Mat Feagai
5. Corey Allan
6. Lyhkan King-Tongia
7. Kyle Flanagan
8. Emre Guler
9. Damien Cook
10. David Klemmer
11. Luciano Leilua
12. Hamish Stewart
13. Jack de Belin

Interchange:
14. Jacob Liddle
15. Michael Molo
16. Hame Sele
17. Loko Pasifiki Tonga

Reserves:
18. Ben Murdoch-Masila
19. Lachlan Ilias
20. Jacob Halangahu
21. Nathan Lawson
22. Christian Tuipulotu

As the match approaches, fans will be eager to see how these changes impact the performance on the field.