NRL: Origin stars return, as NZ Warriors near full strength against Dragons

NRL: NZ Warriors v St George-Illawarra Dragons

Kickoff 7.35pm, Saturday, 18 July

Go Media Stadium, Auckland

Live blog updates on RNZ

State-of-Origin stars Mitch Barnett and Kurt Capewell will return to NZ Warriors for their home game against St George-Illawarra Dragons on Saturday.

Wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has also been named for the encounter, as the home side return to virtually full strength against the NRL cellardwellers.

Front-rower Barnett and second-rower Capewell have played just three games between them over the past two months, as byes and representative commitments have kept them away from clubland.

Coach Andrew Webster has been largely reluctant to risk his veterans on short turnarounds. They both appeared in the 26-24 loss to the Dolphins three weeks ago, but missed last week’s 32-6 win over Wests Tigers, which was played two nights after Origin III.

Watene-Zelezniak celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in Brisbane, but limped off with a hamstring twinge that also kept him out of the Tigers victory. His return sees utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad relegated to the reserves.

With eight games remaining until the NRL playoffs, the Warriors are now relatively injury free. Halfback Tanah Boyd and centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have been ruled out for the season with knee injuries, but front-rower Jackson Ford is perhaps the last piece missing, as he rehabs a pectoral shoulder tear.

He hopes for a return in the final rounds of the regular season, with his team currently sitting second on the competition table, six points inside the top eight.

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leiataua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Teoava, 20. Marata Niukore

Reserves: 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 22. Luke Metcalf, 23. Makaia Tafua

Meanwhile, the injury- ravaged Warriors women are also bolstered by returns, as they seek to bounce back from their 42-16 defeat to Canberra Raiders on Sunday.

The wāhine lost the services of star recruit Gayle Broughton, wing Lavinia Tauhalaliku and forward Felilia Kia in their build-up to the contest, further compounding a raft of previous injuries and suspensions, and leaving them with just 17 fit players for their gameday squad.

Broughton may be sidelined up to a month, as she recovers from a quad injury suffered in training.

Tauhalaliku (concussion), who scored a try double in their NRLW season-opening win over Canterbury Bulldogs, will reclaim her spot on the wing against North Queensland Cowboys, with rookie Ocean Tierney retaining her place on the other side, after her brace against the Raiders on debut.

Sevens superstar Stacey Waaka shifts to centre, with second-rower Shakira Baker moving back to the pack.

Emmanita Paki has been named at five-eighth, with a week to train in her unaccustomed position, while former Wallaroos rugby international Jasmin Huriwai will start at hooker, replacing Capri Paekau.

Front-rower Mya Hill-Moana joins the interchange, after serving a suspension for a hipdrop tackle against the Bulldogs.

Warriors: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Lavinia Tauhalaliku, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Stacey Waaka, 5. Ocean Tierney, 6. Emmanita Paki, 7. Patricia Maliepo, 8. Annetta Nuuausala, 9. Jasmin Huriwai, 10. Ashlee Matapo

Interchange: 14. Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Mya Hill-Moana, 17. Ivana Lauitiiti

Reserves. 18. Metanoia Fetalaiga