Latest news with #CharnzeNicoll-Klokstad
NZ Herald
22-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Warriors v Titans: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returns for round 21 NRL clash
The Warriors welcome back fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad for Saturday's crucial round 21 NRL clash against the Gold Coast Titans in Auckland. The 29-year-old missed the Warriors' past two games with a knee injury but returns to take his place in the No 1 jersey, with Taine Tuaupiki dropping to the
The Advertiser
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Double blow for Warriors with spine ripped apart
The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline. After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear. The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder. The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers. Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May. Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year. After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season. That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos. Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup. The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight. "I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said. "The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys." Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league. The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty. There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026. The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline. After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear. The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder. The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers. Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May. Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year. After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season. That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos. Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup. The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight. "I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said. "The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys." Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league. The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty. There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026. The Warriors will require significant "spine surgery" to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline. After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear. The two injuries - suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane - will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder. The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers. Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May. Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year. After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season. That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos. Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup. The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight. "I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job," captain James Fisher-Harris said. "The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys." Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league. The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty. There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026.
7NEWS
01-07-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Warriors confirm extent of injuries to star pair Luke Metcalf and Charnze-Nicoll-Klokstad
The Warriors will require significant 'spine surgery' to stay in the NRL's top four after fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad joined halfback Luke Metcalf on the sideline. After receiving confirmation that Metcalf has a season-ending ACL rupture, the Warriors have now lost Nicoll-Klokstad for four weeks with a medial ligament tear. The two injuries — suffered in Saturday's loss to Brisbane — will force a major reshuffle of a Warriors team who have shocked the NRL to sit fourth on the ladder. The Warriors have the bye this week, but coach Andrew Webster has a number of options at both fullback and halfback the following week against Wests Tigers. Regardless, having anyone play to the level of Metcalf this season will be a challenge, given he led the Dally M race when it went behind closed doors in May. Tanah Boyd looms as the most likely option to fill the No.7 jersey, with the former Gold Coast halfback taking the Warriors to top spot in NSW Cup this year. After moving from the Titans over the summer, Boyd has won all 13 games he has played in reserve grade this season. That would allow Te Maire Martin to remain as a bench utility, after spending time at hooker, fullback and halfback in one game last week against the Broncos. Taine Tuaupiki will almost certainly take the No.1 jersey, after doing so once earlier in the season and also playing the last month at fullback in NSW Cup. The Warriors were already without NSW State of Origin prop Mitchell Barnett for the rest of the year with an ACL rupture, while Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is also out for at least another fortnight. 'I believe in this team and the whole club. Whoever steps up from (NSW) Cup will do a good job,' captain James Fisher-Harris said. 'The belief in our squad is immense. Whatever happens with injuries, I still believe in the younger boys.' Elsewhere, Manly prop Nathan Brown's season is over after he underwent surgery on a ruptured bicep following a nightmare weekend of injuries across the league. The Dragons alone suffered eight injuries, while the Tigers' spine has been torn apart by injuries, suspensions and State of Origin duty. There is some good news for injured Canberra winger Savelio Tamale, with the rookie-of-the-year contender's contract extended until the end of 2026.
News.com.au
28-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Reece Walsh stars in Origin audition amid Warriors' double injury blow
The Broncos beat the Warriors 26-12 on the back of a starring display from Reece Walsh in his Origin audition amid two big injury blows for the visitors at Suncorp Stadium. Walsh finished with 103 metres, five tackle busts, two offloads, a linebreak assist and a try assist to put his hand up to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga in game three. The Warriors lost their second straight game with the defeat compounded by injuries to fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and halfback Luke Metcalf. Adam Reynolds produced a pinpoint grubber for Kotoni Staggs to dive over and give the Broncos an early lead. Later, Ezra Mam came up with a pinpoint cut-out pass to put Josiah Karapani over for his fifth try in three games to extend the Broncos' lead. The Warriors gifted the Broncos a penalty goal from a ruck infringement allowing Reynolds to make it 12-0 to the home side. Metcalf looked to have set up a try for halves partner Chanel Harris-Tavita, but replays showed he didn't get the ball down. Walsh, in his State of Origin audition, then produced a perfectly timed short ball to put Gehamat Shibasaki over on the stroke of half-time as the Broncos took a commanding lead. Making matters worse for the Warriors, Nicoll-Klokstad later suffered a knee injury trying to make a tackle on Shibasaki and did not return after half-time. But the Warriors, as they have done all season, fought through the adversity as Adam Pompey produced the last pass for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to score in the corner after a brilliant long ball from Metcalf in the lead up as the Warriors got on the board. Walsh was then taken out chasing a Reynolds kick gifting the Broncos a penalty goal to make it 20-6, even though the Brisbane fullback appeared off-side. While Brisbane looked to be cruising at that point, Leka Halasmia then soared high to latch onto a kick from Harris-Tavita to give the Warriors a sniff at a late comeback. But then in a further blow for the Warriors, Metcalf came from the field with a knee injury as Brendan Piakura was placed on report for a late hit on the halfback. Mam and Reynolds combined to put Shibasaki over for a double as the Broncos sealed their third straight win to move back to fifth on the ladder. WALSH STAMPS ORIGIN CLAIMS With Ponga sensationally ruled out of the Origin decider because of a lisfranc injury suffered on Friday night, Walsh is right in the frame to earn a recall to the rep arena. Walsh is only a few weeks back from a PCL injury, which was still giving him a little bit of grief last week, but since he's returned, his form has been very good. Against the Warriors, Walsh was very lively. 'That was probably Walsh's best game of the season,' Michael Ennis said. 'Things were happening around Reece Walsh today.' For Maroons coach Billy Slater, his two fullback options to replace Ponga are Walsh or shifting Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow from the wing. After the Broncos star's performance against the Warriors, you'd have to think Slater will be leaning heavily towards Walsh.
RNZ News
01-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v South Sydney Rabbitohs - what we learned from another heartstopper
Mitch Barnett may face a stint on the sidelines with a knee injury. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport After seeing their five-game winning streak ended last week by Canberra Raiders, NZ Warriors have started another, with their 36-30 win over South Sydney across the Tasman. After threatening to run away with victory at 30-12, once again, they let their opponents back into the contest, which became another heartstopper. The Warriors lost one of their best early, and had to survive a comeback inspired by one of the game's absolute freaks and another headed for the record books, but at the end of the weekend, they have consolidated their top-three spot on the NRL table. Here are some key takeaways from the game. Much has been said about the contribution of co-captain Mitch Barnett this season, especially while fellow skipper James Fisher-Harris was sidelined by injury. During his tenure at Mt Smart, Barnett has become an automatic NSW selection for State of Origin and an inspiration to those around him. His team missed him badly last week against Canberra Raiders, when Kiwis international prop Joseph Tapine bullied the Warriors pack and taunted former Raiders teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. For the first time in 2025, coach Andrew Webster had all his players available against the Rabbitohs, but that lasted just 20 minutes, before Barnett hobbled off with a reported knee injury. He fell badly while making a tackle, with his right knee buckling under him. Barnett tried to play on, but could not, which suggests he may be out for a while. Certainly, his body language wasn't great and scans will determine whether he can be fit for Origin II on 18 June. "There's different grades to each different injury and until you look under the hood, honestly you don't know," said Webster. "He's in good spirits. "We lost Fish for four weeks and he's one of the best front-rowers in the world, so we certainly know how to do next man up." In his absence, Fisher-Harris stepped up , logging 56 minutes and making a game-high 53 tackles, while Jackson Ford continued his outstanding form off the bench, running 15 times for 153 metres and making 37 tackles. Ford also showed his surprising skill, producing a kick that resulted in Rocco Berry's first-half try. If Barnett can't make it back for NSW, the selectors need only look across at Rabbitohs counterpart Keaon Koloamatangi as his replacement. Shifted to the middle this season, he again led his team with 218 running metres from 27 carries and made 39 tackles, while scoring a try. With the Warriors leading 4-0, halfback Luke Metcalf produced a play that must have had him - and Warriors fans - flashing back to the season-opening defeat to Canberra at Las Vegas. Luke Metcalf celebrates his try against Souths. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport On that occasion, they were hot on attack and looking left, when Metcalf had his pass picked off by winger Xavier Savage for a try down the other end - a potential 12-point turnaround. This time, the Warriors were shifting right, when Metcalf tried to float a pass over Alex Johnston to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who was probably already thinking about his gravity-defying dive at the corner. Unfortunately, the Souths winger plucked the ball from the air and dashed the length of the field for his team's opening try, converted by Latrell Mitchell from the sideline for the lead. Another 12-pointer. Leading Dally M Medal standings into this round , Metcalf compounded his error by missing a relatively simple conversion of Berry's try before halftime. To his credit, he turned his performance around in the second half, scoring his eighth try of the season, making two linebreaks and providing a try assist. Metcalf has the lowest conversion success rate of all the fulltime kickers in the competition at 65 percent, but many of them seem to be from the sidelines. After slicing his gimme in the first half, he nailed a couple from out wide in the second, showing the temperament you want from your kicker in the clutch. "I was just talking to him and I don't think he's that pumped with parts of his game, but that try he scored was at a great time," said Webster. "He finds a way to have a moment like that in every game. "We were defending our sets for big periods there, so everyone's doing their part. Luke's fast, he sees the moment and takes it, but I felt like it was a team try. "He's the guy finishing it off, but I felt like the whole team had a big part in that one." This wasn't his best outing of the campaign, but it was likely enough for Metcalf to add to his Dally M tally, with voting now behind closed doors until the end of the season. Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad continues to show why extending his stay at Mt Smart was so important for the Warriors. His 342 running metres from 28 carries included 100 metres after contact and were the most by a Warriors player this season - beating his own mark of 316 against Sydney Roosters. In fact, he has been the leading runner for his team six times this campaign and they've won all six. He was concussed against Melbourne Storm and missed the next game against Brisbane Broncos, otherwise he'd be higher in the competition leaders. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scores a try against South Sydney. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport A quick tally puts him third in this category now with 2259 metres, behind Manly's Lehi Hopoate (2432) and Roosters veteran James Tedesco (2430). Look up the expression 'rocks and diamonds' in the dictionary, and you'll find Latrell Mitchell's picture next to it. When he's engaged, he's an absolute superstar - epitomised by his outrageous 55-metre field goal against Brisbane Broncos - but when he's not, he can be absolutely terrible. When he was pulled from the field late in the first half for a concussion test, his Rabbitohs were teetering. Mitchell took a head knock in the contest for a high ball that led to the Warriors' second try and, while he was off the field, counterpart Nicoll-Kolkstad scored their third to put the visitors ahead at the break. That momentum switch carried into the second half, but at 18 points down, Mitchell began to put his imprint on the contest, throwing a long pass for Johnston to score his second try. Moments later, he repeated that effort for Johnston's third. He had Nicoll-Klokstad in sixes and sevens, as his opposite slipped into touch trying to cover a long, probing kick, and eventually had his own try, taking a short pass and powering over from short range. He converted all five of his team's tries and tormented the Warriors back three with is towering kicks. Without injured veterans Cody Walker and Jack Wighton in the backline, Mitchell has had to be all things to everyone for these Rabbitohs, even playing the halves earlier in the season. The Warriors were lucky to see him at his mercurial best, yet survive to take the two competition points. There have been times over the past 12 months when Johnston probably wondered if his NRL career was over. Last season, he scored his 191st try, which was the most by any player at just one club, but suffered a season-ending Achilles tear soon afterwards. He returned to the field in the fourth round this season, but didn't reach halftime, before leaving with a rib injury. Against the Warriors, his hattrick propelled him to 200 tries - second only to former North Sydney and Manly legend Ken Irvine (212). "He's a pretty special player," Souths coach Wayne Bennett said. "He's not only a good athlete, but he's pretty smart with it." Each year, the Ken Irvine Medal is awarded to the NRL's top tryscorer and Johnston has won it three times (2020-22). Fingers crossed his body allows him to break Irvine's record soon. Both the Warriors and Rabbitohs came into this contest unbeaten when leading at halftime. The Warriors were 5/5 and Souths were 4/4, so leading at the break took on added significance. With the siren about to sound, Nicoll-Klokstad stumbled under a couple of tacklers and went again to level the scores, while Metcalf provided the extra points to put his side ahead. The achievement took on added importance, given the Warriors had been outscored after halftime of their five previous games to the value of 56-21. Against Souths, they not only outscored their opponents 22-18, they managed more second-half points than those previous five games combined. This result evens the historic head-to-head record between these two teams at 21-21 and the Warriors now improve to 17-31 against Bennett-coached teams over the past 30 years. "They like making it hard. We've practiced resilience all pre-season, we defended our line really well. They have a tight connection, they believe in each other and they don't want to let each other down." Warriors coach Andrew Webster "These guys never give up, so you never worry about the time, but we were beaten on the scoreboard and we did run out of time in the end." Souths coach Wayne Bennett The Warriors head back across the ditch next Saturday to face Cronulla Sharks, who lurk four points behind in fifth on the NRL table. So far, they have struggled to find consistency, beating the Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Sea Eagles and Storm among the top eight, but losing a real headscratcher against Sydney Roosters last week, when they were at full strength and the Roosters were without a handful of Origin reps. They have a genuine star in Nico Hynes, gamebreakers throughout the backline and pack, but the player everyone will watch is former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua-Blake, who was released early to return to Sydney this season. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
