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Shaun Johnson is set to make his first appearance for the Warriors this season as new coach Andrew Webster names a near full-strength side for Sunday’s trial against the Melbourne Storm.
Johnson will partner Te Maire Martin in the halves in Christchurch on Sunday as new signings Mitchell Barnett and Marata Niukore make their club debuts in the run-on side and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad plays his first game for the Warriors since the 2018 season.
As Webster has previously flagged, Barnett will start at prop after playing mostly as an edge forward for Newcastle.
Utility Dylan Walker will play his first game for the club from the interchange bench.
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Luke Metcalf, who impressed at halfback in the trial win over the West Tigers last Thursday, will come off the bench, as will fullback Taine Tuaupiki who was signed to a first grade contract over the weekend.
Halfback Ronald Volkman’s 2022 season ended prematurely with shoulder surgery but he also makes his return from the interchange bench on Sunday.
Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images
Shaun Johnson will start at halfback in the Warriors second trial of the season.
Webster has also named top liners Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and captain Tohu Harris to play for the first time this season.
The only NRL squad players not considered were Jazz Tevaga, Rocco Berry and Valingi Kepu who are all on the injured list.
The Warriors sit third on the Pre-season Challenge ladder with 14 points after picking up the biggest win in the 48-12 victory over the West Tigers – and scoring the most points – in the opening round of the Pre-season Challenge.
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy will start Eliesa Katoa, who departed the Warriors late last year, in the back row with former New Zealand Sevens star Will Warbrick also getting a start on the wing after an impressive showing in last week’s Storm trial.
Warriors: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Brayden Wiliame, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Te Maire Martin, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford, Marata Niukore, Tohu Harris (c) Interchange: Dylan Walker, Bunty Afoa, Josh Curran, Tom Ale, Ronald Volkman, Luke Metcalf, Freddy Lussick, Taine Tuaupiki, Bayley Sironen, Viliami Vailea, Edward Kosi, Demitric Sifakula.
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