Warriors Announce Roster Adjustments Ahead of Knights Clash
The One New Zealand Warriors have confirmed various roster adjustments for their upcoming National Rugby League (NRL) match against the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium. These changes include a player scheduled for debut, a return from injury, and several positional shifts.
However, specific details regarding player roles and the designated match round present discrepancies between the provided reports.
Key Roster Changes Announced
Player Debuts and ReturnsMorgan Gannon's NRL Debut
Morgan Gannon, a 22-year-old former Leeds Rhinos second rower, is slated to make his NRL debut for the Warriors, earning the designation of Warrior #296. Gannon joined the club this season, having previously made 73 appearances for Leeds since 2021. He participated in both Pre-season Challenge matches and played a full 80 minutes for the New South Wales Cup side last week.
Information regarding Gannon's specific role for the upcoming match differs: Source 1 reports he will partner with Jacob Laban, 21, in the second row, while Source 2 lists Gannon as being on the six-man bench.
Mitchell Barnett's Return
Co-captain Mitchell Barnett is confirmed to return to the interchange bench, marking his first game back after recovering from a knee injury. Source 1 states the injury was sustained in June of last year, during round 13 against South Sydney. Conversely, Source 2 reports the injury occurred in June 2025.
Adam Pompey Unavailable
Centre Adam Pompey will be unavailable for the match, remaining in Auckland with his wife for the expected arrival of their first child.
Leka Halasima's Positional Shift
Consequently, Leka Halasima will shift from the second row to the centres to cover Pompey's absence.
Marata Niukore's Role
Marata Niukore's role for the match is subject to conflicting reports: Source 1 indicates he will move to the bench, following Gannon and Laban's partnership in the second row. However, Source 2 states he will make his first appearance of the year, playing in the second row.
Jett Cleary Omitted
Halfback Jett Cleary has been omitted from the squad, according to Source 1.
Conflicting Squad Details
The composition of the team's bench is presented with differing details:
- Source 1 lists a confirmed six-man bench including Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, Marata Niukore, Mitchell Barnett, and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira.
- Conversely, Source 2 identifies Sam Healey, Demitric Vaimauga, Tanner Stowers-Smith, and Mitchell Barnett as interchange players, while separately stating that Morgan Gannon and Alofi’ana Khan-Pereira are also listed on the six-man bench.
Match Information
The Warriors are set to face the Knights today at McDonald Jones Stadium, with kick-off scheduled for 5:00 PM local time (3:00 PM NZT).
The designated match round for this fixture also differs: Source 1 identifies this as a round three match, while Source 2 refers to it as a round four NRL match.