The Warriors will be without experienced second-rower Kurt Capewell for Friday night’s Indigenous Round meeting with the Dragons after he suffered a head knock in last weekend’s loss to the Bulldogs.
Capewell, along with halfback Te Maire Martin, also sidelined under concussion protocols, leaves a significant gap in the side as they try to arrest a three-game losing streak that has seen them slip from the NRL’s top four to fifth.
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Egan returns, Halasima steps up
There is at least one welcome boost, with hooker Wayde Egan fit again after missing two weeks due to a head knock and shoulder complaint. He slots straight back into the No.9 jersey for his 146th NRL appearance.
Tanah Boyd will take over at halfback for Martin, while 19-year-old try-scoring sensation Leka Halasima moves from the bench into Capewell’s starting spot.
The Warriors’ youthful bench includes back-rower Eddie Toeava, who debuted earlier this season, alongside Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga and Tanner Stowers-Smith.
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After sitting in the top four for 16 consecutive weeks, the Warriors now face a Dragons side in resurgent form following impressive wins over Canberra and Cronulla. The visitors remain four points outside the eight but will be desperate to keep their late-season charge alive.
When the sides met in Wollongong in Round 10, Luke Metcalf’s field goal secured a tense 15-14 victory for the Warriors, and the home side will be hoping Go Media Stadium continues to be a happy hunting ground.