After the NRL side’s superb victory over the Raiders last night, the One New Zealand Warriors will be seeking a second success in Canberra within 24 hours when the club’s New South Wales Cup team takes on the home side today (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).
The two teams are separated by two points on the table, the Warriors sitting fifth on 17 points while the Raiders are sixth on 15.
They’re also both coming off indifferent form, the One New Zealand Warriors edged out 24-22 by South Sydney last week, their third loss in their last four games (with draw the other result) while the Raiders have been beaten in their last three starts.
First graders Taine Tuaupiki, Brayden Wiliame, Viliami Vailea and Ronald Volkman were named for the Warriors on Tuesday but ruled out were NRL rookie Demitric Sifakula, who is side-lined with a knee injury picked up early in last week’s encounter with the Rabbitohs, and senior prop James Gavet.
The Warriors are fielding a completely changed spine from the one used against South Sydney,
Tuaupiki comes in for Setu Tu at fullback, Farr and Volkman replace Eiden Ackland and Geronimo Doyle in the halves and NRL squad member Freddy Lussick was confirmed as a late starter at hooker with captain Kalani Going moving to loose forward for the injured Sifakula.
Sanele Aukusitino was moved off the bench to replace Tu on the wing.