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NRL, round 19: Eels v Warriors. Where: CommBank Stadium, Sydney. When: Saturday, July 8, 7.30pm. Coverage: Live on Sky Sport 4, live updates on Stuff from 7.10pm.
Andrew Webster has stuck loyal to the team that produced the worst Warriors’ performance of the season with an unchanged side named to face the Parramatta Eels on Saturday night.
That includes influential halfback Shaun Johnson, who will play his 200th match for the club, if he makes the trip to Sydney.
Close to career-best form in 2023, Johnson is also closing in on an even more special milestone off the field that could cast doubt over him appearing in the round 19 clash against the Eels.
Johnson and his wife, Silver Fern Kayla Johnson, are expecting the birth of their second child this month and according to NRL.com, the star halfback is unlikely to make the trip to Sydney.
Should that happen, Johnson will achieve the milestone at home against his old club, the Sharks, on Sunday week.
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Shaun Johnson is set to play his 200th match for the club in his next appearance.
When the on-field milestone does come, Johnson will become just the fifth player to appear in 200 matches for the Warriors alongside Simon Mannering (301 games), Stacey Jones (261), Manu Vatuvei (226) and Ben Matulino (212).
Following a horror 28–6 loss to an understrength Rabbitohs last Friday night, the Warriors again face a team lacking its usual firepower this week.
A loss to the Eels would see the Warriors fall out of the top eight for the first time in more than two months, since way back in round 10.
Brad Arthur’s Eels will be without New South Wales State of Origin representatives Mitchell Moses, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and fullback Clint Gutherson for the match with Queensland’s 19th man J’maine Hopgood likely to re-join the Eels for Saturday’s match at CommBank Stadium.
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New South Wales and Eels halfback Mitchell Moses will miss the match against the Warriors due to State of Origin.
Powerhouse prop Junior Paulo will be there, following his shock omission from Brad Fittler’s Blues squad and his battle in the middle with Addin Fonua-Blake shapes as the most enticing head-to-head battle of the round 19 clash.
Injuries and suspensions have given Webster limited options to make changes from the side who was out of sorts and humbled by the Rabbitohs.
Josh Curran will miss the match due to his NRL suspension after he pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm at the Port Macquarie Local Court last week from an incident in October last year and fellow back rower Marata Niukore is not due to return until round 21 against the Raiders due to a three-match high tackle suspension.
Jazz Tevaga, Te Maire Martin, Ali Leiataua and Demitric Sifakula are not yet ready to return from injuries.
In other milestones for Warriors players, Dylan Walker will play his 200th NRL game, Fonua-Blake his 150th and Wayde Egan will play his 100th.
Daejarn Asi, who departed the Warriors for Parramatta in November, replaces Moses at halfback after filling in for the suspended Dylan Brown in recent weeks and another former Warrior, Ofahiki Ogden, gets a start in the front row after some solid form over the last few rounds.
Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Bunty Afoa, Jackson Ford, Mitchell Barnett, Tohu Harris (capt). Interchange: Dylan Walker, Bayley Sironen, Tom Ale, Freddy Lussick. Extended bench: Brayden Wiliame, Ronald Volkman, Kalani Going, Zyon Maiu’u, Taine Tuaupiki.
Eels: Sean Russell, Maika Sivo, Will Penisini, Bailey Simonsson, Isaac Lumelume, Ryan Matterson, Daejarn Asi, Ofahiki Ogden, Brendan Hands, Junior Paulo, Bryce Cartwright, Andrew Davey, J’maine Hopgood. Interchange: Luca Moretti, Joe Ofahengaue, Shaun Lane, Makahesi Makatoa. Extended bench: Haze Dunster, Waqa Blake, Ky Rodwell, Matt Doorey, Jack Murchie
Referee: Adam Gee
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