Leka Halasima scores a try for Warriors against Brisbane Broncos. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Warriors v Knights
Kickoff: 8pm Friday, 25 April
Apollo Projects Stadium, Christchurch
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
One of the dubious perks of a 'next man up' mentality is the task of picking the next team to take the field, once key absentees have returned.
NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster hints the line-up he's named to take on Newcastle Knights on Friday is not necessarily how they'll take the field for the traditional Anzac Day outing in Christchurch.
With several frontliners missing, his patched-up outfit bounced back from previous defeat to overcome Brisbane Broncos with a Golden Point penalty for their fourth win of the NRL season last Saturday. To be sure, the performance wasn't flawless, but it gave several players a chance to prove their readiness for more prominent roles.
Makeshift winger Taine Tuaupiki slotted back into his accustomed fullback position with ease, workaholic forward Jackson Ford put in a big front-row shift, veteran Kurt Capewell showed his versatility in the centres, while teenage sensation Leka Halasima was a force of nature in the starting pack.
Co-captain James Fisher-Harris is sidelined a few more weeks with his pec injury, so Ford has retained his spot, but with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back from concussion and Rocco Berry returning from suspension, the others now resort to the status quo - on paper, anyway.
Webster suggested that may not be the case, when the ball is ultimately kicked off at Apollo Projects Stadium.
"This week's been the hardest in my time here… every player in the 22 was a real option to play this week," he admitted. "I'm not going to tell you the team, but I can promise you the way the 22 have been named, that order won't particularly be how it is.
"It's the biggest headache I've ever had over making a case for a lot of players. People have selected themselves, of course, but if you watch our reserve grade and how they're playing, and of course the guys who did an unbelievable job on the weekend, there's lots of good headaches.
"I'm just happy that everyone is team first at the moment."
After several explosive cameos off the bench, Halasima built probably the strongest case to keep his new role, running powerfully and scoring his third try in as many games.
Ultimately, he has handed the No.11 jersey back to Capewell and will likely start the Knights encounter on the bench, awaiting his turn to make an impression.
"I thought Leka had a really good impact on the game," reflected Capewell. "He's an outstanding talent coming through, and will only get better and better with the more gametime he can get.
"To see him get some more minutes and do his thing for a bit longer was good.
"Healthy competition is always good to have at a club and we've got so many great back-rowers at this club, we're very lucky to be in that situation. We know it takes a full squad to win games and potentially a competition.
"It's handy to have Leka, because he's also a player that's pretty versatile. If we do have a centre go down, either he or I can jump in there, or he can take my spot, and I can jump in the centres and make less tackles, which is good."
Webster's headaches may take on migraine proportions by the time Fisher-Harris, and star wingers Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (hamstring) and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (wrist) are fully mended next month.
Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Taine Tuaupiki, 3 Rocco Berry, 4 Ali Leiataua, 5 Adam Pompey, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 Jackson Ford, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitch Barnett (c), 11 Kurt Capewell, 12, Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark
Interchange: 14 Leka Halasima, 15 Bunty Afoa, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Jacob Laban
Reserves: 18 Te Maire Martin, 20 Tanah Boyd, 21 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 22 Sam Healey, 23 Ed Kosi
