Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back for NZ Warriors against Gold Coast Titans
Photo:
Brett Phibbs / Photosport
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will return from injury, when NZ Warriors take on Gold Coast Titans at Go Media Stadium on Saturday.
Nicoll-Klokstad, 29, suffered the knee against Brisbane Broncos four weeks ago, but has made a timely recovery to reclaim his No.1 jersey from Taine Tuaupiki for the encounter against the NRL cellar dwellers.
His inclusion is the only change to the squad that barely overcame Newcastle Knights last weekend, with a last-ditch try to second-rower Leka Halasima.
Veteran Kurt Capewell has been named to start at centre, despite leaving the field 20 minutes before the end of that encounter, while second-rower Marata Niukore will bring up 150 NRL games - 96 for Parramatta Eels and 54 for the Warriors, after beginning his career in the junior programme at Mt Smart.
Former Titans Tanah Boyd and Erin Clark will line up against their old team, which they helped to two wins over the Warriors last season - the first an Anzac Day fixture in Auckland and the second a 60-point drubbing across the Tasman.
In his 500th first-grade game in charge, under-siege Titans coach Des Hasler won't have the services of star forward Tino Fa'asuamaleaui with a knee injury and David Fifita, who has re-aggravated an ankle injury.
Former Warrior Kieran Foran will start at five-eighth for Gold Coast.
Warriors:
1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Tavita-Harris, 7 Tanah Boyd, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Jackson Ford, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark
Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves: 18 Taine Tuaupiki, 20 Sam Healey, 21 Bunty Afoa, 22 Ali Leiataua, 23 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Titans:
1 AJ Brimson, 2 Jaylan de Groot, 3 Brian Kelly, 4 Jojo Fifita, 5 Phillip Sami, 6 Kieran Foran, 7 Jayden Campbell, 8 Moeaki Fotuaika, 9 Sam Verrills, 10 Jaimin Jolliffe, 11 Chris Randall, 12 Beau Fermor, 13 Klese Haas
Interchange: 14 Jacob Alick-Wiencke, 15 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 16 Iszac Fa'asuamaleaui, 17 Josh Patston
Reserves: 18 Arama Hau, 19 Sean Mullany, 20 Tom Weaver, 21 Ryan Foran, 22 Alofiana Khan-Pereira
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