NZ Warriors have been forced into multiple changes for their NRL round two clash against Gold Coast Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on Saturday.
After opening the season with a 28-16 defeat to St George-Illawarra Dragons, the Warriors were struck by injury blows to not one, but three starting players from their season opener.
Halfback Shaun Johnson has been ruled out for up to four weeks with a pectoral injury, while winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will face up to eight weeks out of action with a broken thumb. Rookie centre Villiami Vailea is another casualty, out with a knee injury, while captain Tohu Harris isn't expected back until the middle of the 2022 season.
As a result, coach Nathan Brown has been forced into changes, but welcomes back the pair of Reece Walsh and Matt Lodge, both of whom missed the season opener after a ban carried over from the end of the 2022 season.
The pair were both sanctioned for their roles in an end-of-season brawl against the Titans - coincidentally the same opponent they face on Saturday.
New signing Ash Taylor makes his club debut for the Warriors and takes Johnson's place in the No.7 jersey, partnering Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves.
The debut looms as an interesting one for Taylor, who left the Titans after being released at the end of the 2021 season - leading to him signing with the Warriors.
Harris-Tavita switches to five-eighth after starting at fullback last week, as a result of Walsh's ban. The move also sees Kodi Nikorima drop to the role of 18th man, named on the extended interchange bench.
Elsewhere, Adam Pompey takes Watene-Zelezniak's spot on the wing, while Brisbane Broncos loanee Jesse Arthars will make his club debut partnering Rocco Berry at centre.
Lodge meanwhile starts in the front row alongside captain Addin Fonua-Blake, and takes the place of Bunty Afoa, who drops onto the interchange bench.
Warriors: 1-Reece Walsh, 2-Adam Pompey, 3-Jesse Arthars, 4-Rocco Berry, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7-Ash Taylor, 8-Addin Fonua-Blake (c), 9-Wayde Egan, 10-Matt Lodge, 11-Euan Aitken, 12-Eliesa Katoa, 13-Josh Curran
Interchange (four from): 14-Jazz Tevaga, 15-Bunty Afoa, 16-Aaron Pene, 17-Bayley Sironen, 18-Kodi Nikorima, 20-Ben Murdoch-Masila, 21-Jack Murchie, 22-Pride Petterson-Robati, 23-Taniela Otukolo, 24-Junior Ratuva, 25-Edward Kosi.
Join Newshub for live updates of the Warriors v Gold Coast Titans from 5pm Saturday.
