NRL 2020: Eels duo return for NZ Warriors against Cronulla Sharks

Parramatta loan duo George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro will return to the NZ Warriors line-up for their clash with Cronulla Sharks in Sydney on Sunday.

Last weekend, the pair were forced to sit out against their parent club, but will slot back into the game-day squad for the Warriors' must-win match against Cronulla at Jubilee Stadium.

Jennings will replace Gerard Beale on the left wing, while Alvaro moves into his regular interchange role.

But they'll have to wait another week for the services of Panthers loan prop Jack Hetherington. After his four-game suspension, an agreement has been reached for Hetherington to rejoin the Warriors, although he hasn't yet been cleared by Penrith to leave.

NRL 2020: Eels duo return for NZ Warriors against Cronulla Sharks
Photo credit: Getty/Newshub.

The only other change to coach Todd Payten's side is the promotion of Isaiah Papali'i to start in the front row instead of Lachlan Burr, who'll drop to the bench.

Unfortunately for the Warriors, there's no sign yet of rookie stand-out Eliesa Katoa, who's still working his way back from a hand injury sustained in the big win over Newcastle last month. 

With the Parramatta pair back, Payten has been able to name a full complement of 21 players, after having just 20 fit players to choose from last week.

Named on the extended bench are Beale, Curran, Paul Turner and Tom Ale, with Adam Keighran falling out of the match-day group.

The Sharks sit eighth on the NRL ladder - four points ahead of the 10th-placed Warriors - and will want to bounce back from a heavy 28-10 defeat to the Knights last weekend.

Meanwhile, the Warriors will hope to put their hard-fought 24-18 defeat to the Eels behind them, as they cling to their increasingly slim playoff hopes.

The Sharks boast a strong recent record against the Warriors, winning six of their last seven encounters with the NZ NRL club.

After missing two weeks with a hamstring injury, ex-Warriors star Shaun Johnson has been named in the Sharks' starting line-up, replacing suspended Chad Townsend. 

Join us for live updates of the Warriors v Sharks NRL clash from 8:30 Sunday