LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
In the upcoming Harold Matthew Cup grand final, the NZ Warriors are aiming for a repeat title against Newcastle at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.
The match is scheduled for Saturday at 12:00 PM local time (2:00 PM NZT).
The team features Captain Tyson Hansen and fullback Jeremiah Lemana, the only players returning from last year's championship-winning squad, which triumphed over Western Suburbs 34-16 in their inaugural year in the competition.
Hansen will once again start as the #6, while Lemana occupied a centre position during the previous final.
Aside from Hansen and Lemana, winger Junior Pua and hooker Dreytin Marriott are the only other players with prior grand final experience, each having made one appearance last season.
The current squad includes three young bench players, Asolelei Fretton, Kenny Lafituanai, and Hanita Takulua, all aged 15, along with back rower Tusi Fanolua, who turned 16 in February.
Notably, ten members of the 21-man squad hail from outside Auckland, with four from St Thomas of Canterbury College and one from Christchurch Boys' High School.
The team is set to compete with a blend of experienced and younger players as they chase another championship title.