Warriors v Sharks: One change as Mitch Barnett ruled out with broken thumb

The New Zealand Warriors are set for another period without the services of co-captain Mitch Barnett.

The 31-year-old prop faces another stint on the sidelines after breaking his right thumb in Friday night’s loss to the Wests Tigers in Auckland.

It was just his second appearance for the club this season, after a recovery from a knee operation meant his return to the playing field came a few weeks into the new NRL season.

Barnett played 52 minutes off the interchange bench in the loss to the Tigers, making 11 runs and 34 tackles.

He has undergone surgery to repair the latest injury and a statement from the club said a return-to-play timeframe was still being determined.

With Barnett unavailable for Sunday’s clash with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks in Sydney, Demitric Vaimauga moves into the initial 17-man match-day squad, taking Barnett’s place on the interchange.

Eddie Ieremia-Toeava joins Chanel Harris-Tavita in the selected reserves, with Morgan Gannon, Alofia’ana Khan-Pereira and Ali Leiataua named in the extended 22.

Gannon, Khan-Pereira and Leiataua have all been named in the club’s New South Wales Cup side to face the Newtown Jets at Henson Park on Saturday.

Barnett’s injury is a blow for the Warriors on the eve of a testing fortnight as they prepare to take on the Sharks, who looked impressive in a 34-22 win over the Canberra Raiders last time out, before meeting the Melbourne Storm the following week. Both of those fixtures are away.

It has also been a cruel way for Barnett’s final season at the club to begin.

The impressive Australian is set to return to home soil in 2027, when he joins the Brisbane Broncos on a two-year deal. The New South Wales State of Origin representative was granted a release from the final year of his contract with the Warriors on compassionate grounds.

Warriors squad to play the Sharks

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark.

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Marata Niukore, 16. Demitric Vaimaunga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith.

Reserves: 18. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 21. Morgan Gannon, 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Ali Leiataua.

Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.