Recap: Warriors beat Cowboys 38-20 in Christchurch
Sunday, 21 June 2026
The Warriors make their debut under the roof at One New Zealand Stadium against the Cowboys at 4pm on Sunday.
Mitchell Barnett will be a chance to back up after playing just 25 minutes for NSW while Kurt Capewell played 50 for Queensland.
You can follow live updates from the sold out Warriors and Cowboys match right here on Stuff from 3.45pm.
Cowboy’s homecoming
Warriors middle forward Tanner Stowers-Smith (Halswell) will have plenty of support inside One New Zealand Stadium, but he’s not the only homecoming.
Stowers-Smith will be playing his first NRL match in Christchurch on Sunday against the Cowboys, but so will another Halswell old boy.
When he comes off the interchange bench, Cowboys and Kiwis prop Griffin Neame will also be making his first NRL appearance in South Island soil.
A proud West Coaster, Neame, who grew up playing for the Suburbs club in Greymouth, spent plenty of time in Christchurch, including a stint at the Halswell club, before heading to Townsville.
“I’ve been excited about this game for a long time,” Neame said at Cowboys training this week.
“Everyone from my home town is coming,” the proud West Coaster said. “Being in Christchurch, my home town is just down the road, so it’s going to be one to remember.”
Linwood’s Makaia Tafua, who made his NRL debut last week in the loss to the Sharks, is in the reserves for the Warriors and could yet come into the side.
What to expect
Coming in off two losses on the bounce, a Warriors side that is desperate to jump back into winning ways under the roof in Christchurch.
But it won’t come easy against the ninth-placed Cowboys, because the Warriors are seven spots north up the NRL ladder, in second, the North Queensland-based side have eight victories this season to the Warriors' nine.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster is predicting an “amazing atmosphere” for his side’s debut appearance at One New Zealand Stadium, but knows the dry, fast track will suit the visitors.
“Obviously, there won't be any dew or anything like that,” Webster said.
“I think the biggest thing is that the Cowboys love to throw the ball around, so they'll enjoy the fast track, but we love some good dry conditions, so we're fine with that as well.”
Warriors fans won’t get an indication as to whether its State of Origin stars Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell will back up until Saturday afternoon when the squad is cut down 24 hours before kick off.
The teams
Warriors: 1: Taine Tuaupiki, 2: Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3: Ali Leiataua, 4: Adam Pompey, 5: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 6: Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7: Te Marie Martin; 8: Tanner Stowers-Smith, 9: Wayde Egan, 10: Jackson Ford, 11: Jacob Laban, 12: Marata Niukore, 13: Erin Clark. Interchange: 14: Sam Healey, 15: Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16: Demitric Vaimauga, 17: Kayliss Fatialofa, 18: Rocco Berry, 20: Luke Metcalf. Reserves: 21: Makaia Tafua, 22: Mitch Barnett, 23: Kurt Capewell.
Cowboys: 1: Scott Drinkwater, 2: Braidon Burns, 3: Zac Laybutt, 4: Tom Chester, 5: Murray Taulagi, 6: Jaxon Purdue, 7: Jake Clifford; 8: Tom Mikaele, 9: Reed Mahoney, 10: Jason Taumalolo, 11: Heilum Luki, 12: Jeremia Nanai 13: Reuben Cotter. Interchange: 14: Soni Luke, 15: Griffin Neame, 16: Matt Lodge, 17: Coen Hess, 18: Liam Sutton, 19: Sam McIntyre. Reserves: 20: John Batemen, 21: Jaxson Paulo, 22: Ethan King, 23: Wiremu Greig.
TAB odds
Warriors $1.33, Cowboys 3.35