Wayde Egan will sit out the trip to Manly with a hip complaint. Photo: Photosport
Veteran NZ Warriors hooker Wayde Egan will sit out their final regular-season game against Manly Sea Eagles on Friday, as they try to regain a top-four spot for the NRL playoffs.
Egan, 28, was subbed off with just under 30 minutes remaining against Parramatta Eels last week and has been nursed through recent weeks to preserve him for the postseason. He is reportedly suffering a hip complaint and will now have to wait another week to celebrate his 150th NRL game.
Six weeks ago, he failed a concussion test early against Gold Coast Titans and missed the next two weeks, as coach Andrew Webster eased him back into the rotation. Egan also sat out the Round 14 win over Cronulla Sharks in June with a hip complaint.
In his absence, understudy Sam Healey has been named for his sixth NRL appearance and third start of his career.
The only other change sees Tanner Stowers-Smith claiming the No.10 jersey, after replacing Demitric Vaimauga in the starting line-up before kickoff over the previous two weeks.
Otherwise, Webster has resisted the temptation to rest frontline players, although that may still change before kickoff.
Currently sitting sixth, the Warriors have clinched a home fixture in the first round of playoffs, but can still improve their standing with victory over the Sea Eagles.
Fourth-placed Brisbane Broncos face second-placed Melbourne Storm on Thursday, but the timing of that game means Webster would have to make his decision to sit some of his battle-worn stars before it kicks off, without knowing the result.
The Warriors reserves have earned a first-round bye in the NSW Cup playoffs, after finishing 11 points clear atop the table.
Meanwhile, Manly coach Anthony Seibold has been forced into one injury change, with centre Tolu Koula carrying a knee complaint and replaced by Clayton Faulalo.
The Sea Eagles line-up includes former Warriors Matt Lodge, Siosiua Taukeiaho, Jazz Tevaga and Tof Sipley.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Rocco Berry, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Sam Healey, 10. Tanner Stower-Smith, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima
Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Kalani Going, 21. Bunty Afoa, 22. Ed Kosi, 23. Luke Hanson
Sea Eagles: 1. Tom Trbojevic, 2. Jason Saab, 3. Clayton Faulalo, 4. Tommy Talau, 5. Lehi Hopoate, 6. Luke Brooks, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Matt Lodge, 9. Jake Simpkin, 10. Siosiua Taukeiaho, 11. Corey Waddell, 12. Ben Trbojevic, 13. Jazz Tevaga
Interchange: 14. Joey Walsh, 15. Caleb Navale, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Tof Sipley
Reserves: 18. Aaron Schoupp, 19. Navren Willett, 20. DJazirhae Pua'avase, 21. Simone Laiafi, 22. Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Here's what teams are playing for in the final week of the NRL regular season:
CANBERRA RAIDERS
First
Round 27 v Dolphins (A) on Sunday
Clinched the minor premiership against Wests Tigers last week and have opted to sit many of their regular starters, including Kiwis front-rower Joseph Tapine, Origin forward Hudson Young, veteran Josh Papalii, and halves Jamal Fogarty and Ethan Strange.
Provisional playoff match-up v Brisbane Broncos (H)
MELBOURNE STORM
Second
Round 27 v Brisbane Broncos (A) on Thursday
Could still lose second to Canterbury Bulldogs, who are just two points back, but would need to really drop their bundle against the Broncos to lose their +90 points differential advantage.
This first game of the round will really set the tone for the rest of the weekend, with the result influencing several others. Melbourne are taking no chances, which is good news for the Warriors, bringing back some who have missed recent games, including Dally M Medal winner Jahrome Hughes.
Provisional playoff match-up v Canterbury Bulldogs (H)
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Third
Round 27 v Cronulla Sharks (H) on Saturday
The Bulldogs can still improve their standing and grab a home playoff game next week, but would need a huge win or Storm loss to overcome the countback discrepancy.
They have lost in-form winger Jacob Kiraz, but don't seem to have rested anyone. Of course, that could all change, if Melbourne win on Thursday and the Bulldogs have nothing to play for.
Provisional playoff match-up v Melbourne Storm (A)
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Fourth
Round 27 v Melbourne Storm (H)
Desperately defending their top-four spot and the extra playoff life that comes with that. Brisbane currently hold a countback advantage of both Cronulla (+65) and the Warriors (+134), and victory would virtually assure their standing.
After his surprise star turn in Origin, centre Gehamat Shibasaki surprisingly drops to the bench, replaced by Jesse Arthars.
Provisional playoff match-up v Canberra Raiders (A)
CRONULLA SHARKS
Fifth
Round 27 v Canterbury Bulldogs (A) on Saturday
Level with the Broncos and Warriors, but probably need Brisbane to lose to improve their standing. They have the advantage of playing last of those three, so they will know whether they still have anything to chase.
They have named a near full-strength line-up for now.
Provisional playoff match-up v Sydney Roosters (H)
NZ WARRIORS
Sixth
Round 27 v Manly Sea Eagles (A) on Friday
Can't slide any further and really need to win, and hope Brisbane and Cronulla both lose, if they hope to return to the top four.
Webster may yet decide to pull the pin and settle for sixth, although avoiding four-time defending champions Penrith Panthers in the playoffs would still be preferable.
Provisional playoff match-up v Penrith Panthers (H)
PENRITH PANTHERS
Seventh
Round 27 v St George Illawarra Dragons (A) on Saturday
Resting players last week and losing not only cost them a shot at the top four, it means they won't play at home in the postseason. Ballsy move from former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary and you have to wonder if he was angling for a showdown with his old outfit and his former assistant coach next week.
His troops are all back against the Dragons and they'll hope to regain some momentum, after their nine-game winning streak ended with consecutive losses to the top three teams.
Provisional playoff match-up v NZ Warriors (A)
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Eighth
Round 27 v South Sydney Rabbitohs (H) on Friday
Only two points clear of the Dolphins and Sea Eagles, but with countback advantage over both, if they catch up. That edge is only 15 points over the Dolphins, so the margin of error is slim.
Victory could also put them past Penrith, but they've also drawn their archrivals, with Souths coach Wayne Bennett able to help his former Dolphins club with an upset.
Provisional playoff match-up v Cronulla Sharks (A)
DOLPHINS
Ninth
Round 27 v Canberra Raiders (H) on Sunday
Can still snatch a playoff spot with a Roosters loss and victory over an understrength Raiders line-up, but their form has fallen away badly, since they pipped the Warriors in the final seconds a month ago.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
10th
Round 27 v NZ Warriors (H) on Friday
Can also make the playoffs, but would likely need both Dolphins and Roosters to lose big, or they run up the points against the Warriors. That becomes more likely, if Webster rests his troops.
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