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Warriors v Raiders: Asi starts in new colours; Whitehead ruled out

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pan66.com
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The Warriors and Raiders ran into the NRL's two benchmark teams in round seven and came away with demoralising defeats by 60 and 30 points respectively.

After Canberra spent the entire second half inside their own territory in Sunday's 36-6 loss to Penrith it was hard to imagine any team doing it tougher than that but the Warriors found a way on Monday in Melbourne.

The Storm's ruthless 10-try second half left commentators grasping for superlatives and left Nathan Brown's men with a horror injury toll and only five days to pick themselves up ahead of a clash with a desperate Raiders outfit.

Brown and his opposite number Ricky Stuart face a massive task to get their teams back on track after their confidence took a hammering in ANZAC round.

Warriors v Raiders : Round 8

The Rundown

Team news

Warriors: Ben Murdoch-Masila has come into the squad on game day after being sidelined since round four with a knee injury. Taniela Otukolo goes back to 18th man.

Daejarn Asi, who has made a mid-season switch from the Cowboys, will start his first game for the Warriors — coming into the halves in place of Chanel Harris-Tavita, who ruptured his testicle in last week's loss to Melbourne.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (concussion), Josh Curran (knee), Aaron Pene (suspension) and Edward Kosi (omitted) are all out of the side. The new faces are Rocco Berry and Viliami Vailea in the outside backs and Jack Murchie and Eliesa Katoa on the bench, while Bayley Sironen moves into the starting side. 

Raiders: Elliott Whitehead's return from a facial laceration will have to wait another week, with the captain ruled out of the side. Corey Harawira-Naera will start in the second row and Harry Rushton is on the bench after making his debut last week.

Adam Elliott has shifted to hooker on game day with Tom Starling going back to the bench. 

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh
    Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
  • Winger for Warriors is number 3 Jesse Arthars
    Winger for Raiders is number 2 Nick Cotric
  • Centre for Warriors is number 2 Rocco Berry
    Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
  • Centre for Warriors is number 5 Viliami Vailea
    Centre for Raiders is number 4 Semi Valemei
  • Winger for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
    Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
  • Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 21 Daejarn Asi
    Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
  • Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Shaun Johnson
    Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Brad Schneider

Forwards

  • Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake
    Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papali'i
  • Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
    Hooker for Raiders is number 16 Adam Elliott
  • Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge
    Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Euan Aitken
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
  • 2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Bayley Sironen
    2nd Row for Raiders is number 15 Corey Harawira-Naera 
  • Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga
    Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton

Interchange

  • Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa
    Interchange for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa
    Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Jack Murchie
    Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Corey Horsburgh
  • Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Ben Murdoch-Masila
    Interchange for Raiders is number 18 Harry Rushton

Reserves

  • Replacement for Warriors is number 14 Taniela Otukolo
    Replacement for Raiders is number 19 Matt Frawley

Match Officials

  • Referee: Chris Butler
  • Touch Judge: Nick Morel
  • Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated:

Key match-up

Addin Fonua-Blake v Josh Papalii: The battle for supremacy in the middle will go a long way to deciding the winner in Redcliffe and these two warriors know exactly what is required to lay the platform. AFB is averaging 152 metres per game and has come up with 18 tackle breaks while Papalii has churned out 115 metres per game and busted 16 tackles. The showdown between two of the NRL's most respected big men will be a highlight of this battle for redemption.

Stat attack

The last three clashes between these sides have produced a total of 149 points so expect another free-flowing encounter on a fast track at Moreton Daily Stadium. In round three last year they produced a classic shootout in Canberra with the Warriors clinging on to win 34-31 before the Raiders reversed the result 28-16 in Mackay in round 24.

Related

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.