Warriors v Tigers: Captain James Fisher-Harris’ timely return for run-in to the NRL playoffs

Friday, 10 July 2026

James Fisher-Harris, warming up before the round four game with Wests Tigers in Auckland in March, is back to lead the Warriors in the re-match in Sydney on Friday night.

What: NRL round 19, Wests Tigers v NZ Warriors. Where: Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney. When: 10pm Friday (NZT), Sky Sport 1.

Expect returning captain James Fisher-Harris to provide the galvanic effect as the Warriors kick off a crucial stretch towards the business end of the closest NRL season in years.

Andrew Webster’s team return from a third and final bye to meet Benji Marshall’s Wests Tigers in Sydney on Friday night (10pm NZT).

The Kiwi club still sits in second place, nominally, on a rung shared by two rivals.

But wins over the Tigers and the bottom-of-the-table Dragons, the lowly Gold Coast Titans and the ninth-placed Bulldogs are vital before the Warriors host leaders Penrith in Auckland on August 7.

The Panthers remain the bookies’ favourites to win a fifth NRL title in six years, but in truth, there is no dominant team in 2026.

Ivan Cleary’s Panthers may have a four-point lead, but the Warriors and Roosters - both on 26 points with the Knights - have a game in hand.

Manly, now coached by Kiwis great Kieran Foran, Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs and the Cowboys are all on 22 points.

Lose a couple of games at this point and it could be a snakes-and-ladders type tumble for any team in the top-eight mix.

The Warriors announced a sponsorship deal at Queensland funpark Dream World on Wednesday, but they’d be in dreamland if they thought they have yet achieved the consistency to win the NRL title.

It’s been one-step forward one-back since a six-game winning streak ended in round 13 with a two-point loss to the Panthers.

Last weekend’s bye gave Webster extra time to get Fisher-Harris and second rower Leka Halasima right after a month-long injury break following the two-point loss to the Panthers on May 31.

Leka Halasima celebrates a round 1 try against the Roosters. He returns to the Warriors’ back row for the visit to Wests Tigers.

The Warriors now have enough depth to allow Webster the luxury of resting his State of Origin stalwarts, but Mitchell Barnett and Kurt Capewell are named on an extended bench and he will delay a call on their involvement until Friday.

It’s always tricky to second-guess Webster selections - he has a poker player’s knack of keeping cards close to chest - but given the fact the Warriors have no respite in their run-in, he might be wise to keep Barnett and Capewell’s powder dry.

Besides, he’s got Fisher-Harris back, along with Halasima’s try-scoring threat.

Warriors fans saw what an impact Barnett made against the Cowboys in Christchurch on return from Origin duty after missing the previous week’s loss to the Sharks.

The big frontrower took the kick-off off One NZ Stadium’s back fence - indeed it seemed he had begun his wind-up somewhere around Rangiora. You could sense spirits lift in the lineup and in the stands as the Warriors set the platform for a rebound victory.

Fisher-Harris - in vintage form before his calf strain - should inject the same turbo boost against the Tigers. The Warriors need the toughness and leadership the five-time premiership winner supplies.

The Tigers may be 12th, but this will be no pushover, especially at Campbelltown.

Webster won’t need reminding that Wests Tigers embarrassed his side, 32-14, in Auckland in March.

Marshall has proved he is a NRL-worthy coach, not just a club legend gifted the reins. He is building a promising team, which may take a few years to achieve fruition.

He has his own talisman back in star standoff Jarome Luai from a concussion stand-down to partner in-form running scrumhalf Adam Doueihi, but has lost NSW hooker Api Koroisau to a pectoral problem.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s hamstring hobbles means a change of wing for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who switches to the right flank after five tries in two games on the left.

He hands the No 5 jumper back to Alofiana Khan-Pereira, who had scored nine tries in eight appearances before his thigh niggle.

Bunty Afoa - fresh from his 150th NRL game - starts in the Wests Tigers pack against his former Warriors mates.

Wests Tigers: Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva, Heamisi Makasini, Starford Toa’a, Jeral Skelton, Jarome Luai (capt), Adam Doueihi, Terrell May, Josese Lanyon, Bunty Afoa, Samuela Fainu, Sione Fainu, Alex Twal. Interchange: Latu Fainu, Fonua Pole, Alex Seyfarth, Tony Sukkar, Faaletino Tavana, Charlie Murray.

Warriors: Taine Tuaupiki, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ali Leiataua, Adam Pompey, Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Te Maire Martin, James Fisher-Harris (capt), Wayde Egan, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Leka Halasima, Jacob Laban, Erin Clark. Interchange: Sam Healey, Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, Demitric Vaimauga, Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf, Makaia Tafua. Extended bench: Luke Laulilii, Mitchell Barnett, Kurt Capewell.

Referee: Adam Gee. Senior review officer: Ashley Klein.

TAB odds: Warriors $1.33, Tigers $3.35.