Star recruits eye NRLW return from injury for NZ Warriors against Parramatta Eels

Warriors’ Payton Takimoana is injured whilst trying to score a try during the Warriors v Bulldogs, NRLW match at FMG Stadium, Hamilton, New Zealand on Sunday 5 July 2026. Photo: DJ Mills / Photosport — Payton Takimoana is named for a return to the Warriors, after damaging a shoulder in their season-opener.

NZ Warriors may welcome four frontline players back to their NRLW squad to face Parramatta Eels on Sunday, but lose the services of their four-try hero from last week.

Wing Lavinia Tauhalaliku leads all try scorers in the Aussie women’s league competition after three rounds, breaking loose in her team’s 42-4 win over North Queensland Cowboys, after a double in their season-opening victory over Canterbury Bulldogs.

Tauhalaliku also scooped maximum Dally M Medal points from the Cowboys encounter, but while she is unable to travel to Sydney this week, coach Ron Griffiths has been able to call on Payton Takimoana - last season’s try-scoring sensation with 15 from 11 games - as her replacement.

Takimoana left the field against the Bulldogs, after damaging a shoulder while trying to score, and will return to action, as the wāhine’s injury list shortens.

Star recruits Gayle Broughton and Mele Hufanga have been included among the extended reserves for possible returns, while back-rower Kaiyah Atai is named in the starting line-up, after breaking a finger in the pre-season.

Five-eighth Broughton starred against the Bulldogs, but suffered a quad injury in training the following week and has missed the last two games.

Centre Hufanga is yet to debut for the Auckland club, after straining a hamstring during the pre-season.

Atai played all 11 games for the Warriors last season and finished as their leading tackler.

Improving to sixth on the competition table with a 2-1 record, the Warriors have a chance to further boost their playoff hopes against the winless Eels.

Warriors: 1. Apii Nicholls, 2. Payton Takimoana, 3. Tysha Ikenasio, 4. Stacey Waaka, 5. Ocean Tierney, 6. Emmanita Paki, 7. Patricia Maliepo. 8. Mya Hill-Moana, 9. Jasmin Huriwai, 10. Metanoia Fetalaiga, 11. Christabelle Onesemo, 12. Shakira Baker, 13. Kaiyah Atai

Interchange: 14. Capri Paekau, 15. Harata Butler, 16. Ivana Luaitiiti, 17. Annetta Nuuausala

Reserves: 18. Gayle Broughton, 19. Mele Hufanga, 20. Natalia Hickling, 22. Maarire Puketapu

Meanwhile, coach Andrew Webster has the luxury of naming an unchanged playing line-up to face Canterbury Bulldogs on Saturday.

If they take the field as named, it will be the first time this season the Warriors have fielded the same team 1-17 in consecutive weeks.

A notable addition to the extended bench is centre Rocco Berry, who has not appeared in first grade this season, due to a range of injuries.

Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Ali Leitaua, 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitch Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark

Interchange: 14. Sam Healey, 15. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima, 18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20. Marata Niukore

Reserves: 21. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 22. Luke Metcalf, 23. Rocco Berry

Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton returns to their line-up, after sitting out last week’s win over Wests Tigers, while second-rower Viliame Kikau is promoted to the starting pack, after coming off the bench.