The Warriors are back and home and hoping to turn their spirited performance last week into points against the visiting Sharks.
The home side were denied a remarkable comeback against the Raiders last week, reduced to 11 players for the majority of the game to only go down 20-16.
Already depleted with injuries ruling out both their established halves and their captain and fullback Apii Nicholls before the match, the side were down two more players who were sent to the sin bin, but showed great heart.
The Sharks travel to New Zealand off the back of a hard-fought win over the Titans where they prevailed 12-8 in a griding game.
Another big bonus was the return of Test and Origin prop Caitlan Johnston-Green who made her long-awaited Cronulla debut after being cleared to complete a remarkable return after welcoming her baby in May.
Sitting just above the Warriors on the ladder in fifth place with four wins to three, there is plenty on the line for both sides with only four more regular season games to go before the finals.
Match: Warriors v Sharks
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
7th Position
away Team
Sharks
4th Position
Venue: FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
Team News
Warriors: Some big ins for the Warriors this week with the return of captain Apii Nicholls at fullback and Patricia Maliepo at five-eighth. The return to the backs of Tyra Wetera (wing) and Shakira Baker (centre) has caused a further reshuffle of the line-up, with Emmanita Paki moving from fullback to halfback and Lydia Turua-Quedley from halfback to her usual role at hooker. Capri Paekau is back on the bench after starting at nine last week, while other changes see Makayla Eli come from the bench to start in the second row, while Ashlee Matapo has been elevated to the bench after being the replacement player last week.
Sharks: A few changes for the Sharks with Kiwi centre Annessa Biddle out with a shoulder injury suffered in last week's win over the Titans. Grace-Lee Weekes has been named to start. Other changes see a swap between forwards Stephanie Faulkner, who has been named to start, and Jacinta Carter, who will come from the bench this week. Manilita Takapautolo has been named in the second row in place of Jaydika Tafua who has a broken finger. Nakia Davis-Welsh has been elevated from 18th player to the bench, with young star Jada Taylor, who has been sidelined with a knee injury, named as the replacement player.
Match: Warriors v Sharks
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
away Team
Sharks
Team Lists
Backs
-
Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Apii NichollsFullback for Sharks is number 1 Emma Verran
-
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Tyra WetereWinger for Sharks is number 2 Cassie Staples
-
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Kaiyah AtaiCentre for Sharks is number 3 Tiana Penitani Gray
-
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Shakira BakerCentre for Sharks is number 4 Grace-Lee Weekes
-
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Payton TakimoanaWinger for Sharks is number 5 Georgia Ravics
-
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Patricia MaliepoFive-Eighth for Sharks is number 14 Tyla King
-
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Emmanita PakiHalfback for Sharks is number 7 Chantay Kiria-Ratu
Forwards
-
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Lavinia KitaiProp for Sharks is number 8 Ellie Johnston
-
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Lydia Turua-QuedleyHooker for Sharks is number 6 Georgia Hannaway
-
Prop for Warriors is number 16 Ashlee MatapoProp for Sharks is number 10 Stephanie Faulkner
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Maarire Puketapu2nd Row for Sharks is number 13 Talei Holmes
-
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Makayla Eli2nd Row for Sharks is number 22 Rhiannon Byers
-
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Laishon Albert-JonesLock for Sharks is number 9 Brooke Anderson
Interchange
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Capri PaekauInterchange for Sharks is number 11 Manilita Takapautolo
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Harata ButlerInterchange for Sharks is number 12 Anne-Marie Kiria-Ratu
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Ivana LauitiitiInterchange for Sharks is number 17 Caitlan Johnston-Green
-
Interchange for Warriors is number 19 Kalyn Takitimu-CookInterchange for Sharks is number 18 Jada Taylor
Reserves
-
Replacement for Warriors is number 18 Avery-Rose CarmontReplacement for Sharks is number 16 Nakia Davis-Welsh
Match Officials
- Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen
Last updated:
Stat Attack
- The Warriors play in Hamilton for the second straight week.
- Sharks winger Cassie Staples has scored six tries in her last five games.
- Warriors winger Payten Takimoana has scored 10 tries in her last six games.
- The Sharks have won two of their three away games this season.
- The Warriors outscored the Raiders 16-8 while reduced to 11 players last week.
Stats supplied by David Middleton, League Information Services, author of the official annual of the NRL.
