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Te Maire Martin has been named at standoff for the Warriors in their opening NRL clash for the season against the Newcastle Knights in Wellington on Friday night.
Martin has played 68 games for Penrith, North Queensland and Brisbane, but will make his Warriors NRL debut at Sky Stadium, teaming up with Shaun Johnson in the halves.
He is one of six off-season signings to make their first NRL appearances for the Warriors, while a seventh player, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, resumes his career for the club after 66 matches for the Canberra Raiders over the past four seasons.
ANDREW CORNAGA/PHOTOSPORT
Te Maire Martin in action for the Warriors in their Pre-Season Challenge match against Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on February 9.
The others are Brayden Wiliame, who will start in the centres after a career that has taken in matches for Parramatta, Manly Warringah and St George Illawarra; former Newcastle prop Mitchell Barnett; second rowers Jackson Ford, from St George Illawarra and Kiwis international Marata Niukore; and utility Dylan Walker, who has made 186 appearances for the Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles.
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Webster has named only four players in the starting the line-up who were starters in the Warriors’ final 2022 NRL match against Gold Coast – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, props Addin Fonua-Blake and captain Tohu Harris and hooker Wayde Egan, though three from that team in Bunty Afoa, Josh Curran and Tom Ale are on the bench on Friday night.
After the 24-6 loss in the trial match to Melbourne Storm on February 19, Pompey comes into the starting side for Viliami Vailea, who drops to the bench.
Hannah Peters/Getty Images
Jackson Ford has won a starting spot after two impressive trials.
The match will be the first time in 25 years and just the third time in their history that the Warriors have opened an NRL campaign on a Friday night.
Experienced Knights centre Dane Gagai misses the game due to a hamstring strain and former Australian sevens star Lachlan Miller makes his debut for Newcastle at fullback, just weeks after his move from the Sharks was confirmed.
New recruit Greg Marzhew, who joined in the off-season from the Gold Coast Titans, has missed out on a spot in Adam O’Brien’s side with Hymel Hunt preferred on the wing.
At a glance:
Warriors team to play Newcastle Knights at Sky Stadium, Wellington, on Friday (kickoff: 8pm)
Warriors: Charnze Nicolll-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 (captain). Interchange: (from) Dylan Walker, Bunty Afoa, Josh Curran, Tom Ale, Viliami Vailea, Freddy Lussick, Ronald Volkman, Taine Tuaupiki, Edward Kosi.
Knights: Lachlan Miller, Hymel Hunt, Enari Tuala, Bradman Best, Dominic Young, Kalyn Ponga (captain), Jackson Hastings, Daniel Saifiti, Jayden Brailey, Jacob Saifiti, Tyson Frizell, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Kurt Mann. Interchange: (from) Phoenix Crossland, Adam Elliott, Jack Hetherington, Leo Thompson, Jack Johns, Tyson Gamble, Brodie Jones, Dylan Lucas, Bailey Hodgson.
Referee: Chris Sutton
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