NRL: NZ Warriors wrap stars in cotton wool for regular season finale against Dolphins

NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster is not risking his stars in the regular season finale, with an NRL playoffs spot already locked in.

Victory over St George Dragons last Friday clinched a top-four finish for the Auckland-based club and with nothing to gain from its final game against the expansion Dolphins, Webster will give his fringe performers a run at Brisbane.

Missing from the full-strength line-up are fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, halves Luke Metcalf and Shaun Johnson, front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, hooker Wayde Egan and captain Tohu Harris.

Ronald Volkman in action for the Warriors.
Ronald Volkman in action for the Warriors. Photo credit: Photosport

That's more than half their starting line-up.

In their stead, Taine Tuaupiki, Ed Kosi, Te Maire Martin, Ronald Volkman, Freddy Lussick and Dylan Walker have earned promotions, while Mitch Barnett returns from a two-week injury spell.

Kosi began the season strongly, before suffering a knee injury, hasn't been able to supplant in-form Watene-Zelezniak or Marcelo Montoya on the wings. Martin was the first-choice five-eighth at the start of the campaign, but broke a leg and took longer than expected to heal, only returning to reserve grade last week.

Metcalf (hamstring) and Harris picked up niggly injuries from the Dragons encounter, so their absence will aid their recovery before the post-season, while forward Jazz Tevaga has been given another week to mend his hamstring tweak.  

Johnson has carried a quad strain that hasn't allowed him to kick for goal, but his absence will also cost him valuable Dally M points, as he closes in on the NRL Player of the Year award.

Walker will captain the side in Harris' absence.

Former Warriors Euan Aitken and Kodi Nikorima have been named in the Dolphins side, which also features NZ Kiwi stars Jesse and Kenny Bromwich. 

Warriors: 1-Taine Tuaupiki, 2-Ed Kosi, 3-Rocco Berry, 4-Adam Pompey, 5-Marcelo Montoya, 6-Te Maire Martin, 7-Ronald Volkman, 8-Bunty Afoa, 9-Freddy Lussick, 10-Mitch Barnett, 11-Josh Curran, 12-Marata Niukore, 13-Dylan Walker

Interchange (four from): 14-Brayden Wiliame, 15-Jackson Ford, 16-Bayley Sironen, 17-Tom Ale, 18-Kalani Going, 20-Jacob Laban, 21-Ben Farr, 22-Zyon Maiu'u, 23-Paul Roache

Join Newshub at 5pm Saturday for live updates of the Warriors v Dolphins NRL clash