In the late mail for the knights vs warriors clash, Newcastle will be without Fletcher Sharpe after he failed to get through training, while the Warriors gain the earlier-than-expected return of Origin forward Mitch Barnett from a serious knee injury.
Knights Vs Warriors: Teams and late changes
Newcastle named a 21-player squad that included Fletcher Hunt, Dominic Young, Dane Gagai, Bradman Best and Greg Marzhew, with Tyson Gamble moved to five-eighth following Fletcher Sharpe’s omission. The Knights’ player cuts listed Fletcher Sharpe and Elijah Leaumoana. The late mail confirmed Sharpe will miss out because of an ongoing PCL knee injury after failing to get through training this week. Sharpe’s inclusion had been viewed as timely while Dylan Brown and Kalyn Ponga remain sidelined for four and eight weeks respectively.
The Warriors named Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ali Leiataua, Leka Halasima, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and others. Mitchell Barnett was named on the six-man bench and the club confirmed in a club statement that Barnett will come off the pine. Adam Pompey was ruled out to stay in NZ to support his wife who is expecting; that change forced coach Andrew Webster to reshuffle, with Leka Halasima moved to start in the centres. Marata Niukore returns from a calf injury to start in the back row, and Luke Hanson earns his NRL debut at five-eighth.
Player impact, specialist view and wider late mail
On the Knights’ side, the loss of Fletcher Sharpe is a direct blow to the club’s playmaking depth: the late mail has pushed Tyson Gamble into five-eighth. For the Warriors, the return of Mitch Barnett from a serious knee injury and Marata Niukore’s return from a calf complaint are the key recovery stories in the squad announcement. Adam Pompey’s absence for personal reasons led to an immediate tactical adjustment, starting Leka Halasima in the centres.
Elsewhere in the late announcements, the Cronulla Sharks named Teig Wilton on the extended bench as he pushes for a return from shoulder surgery and Mawene Hiroti on the extended bench as he bids to return from a knee injury. Coach Craig Fitzgibbon offered a clear assessment of a player’s rehabilitation when discussing Teig Wilton, saying the player was “looking really good” and needed to get through one more session to secure a return.
What the reshuffle means for Round 3 and what to watch
Late changes have altered the match-day narratives: the knights vs warriors lineups now list different structures in the halves and centres, with Gamble at five-eighth and Halasima starting in the centres for the visitors. The Warriors’ bench depth is bolstered by Barnett’s early comeback from a serious knee injury, while the Knights must cope without one of their anticipated playmakers. Luke Hanson’s NRL debut is another development to monitor as it adds an element of unpredictability to the Warriors’ spine.
Coaches have reacted by shifting personnel and roles rather than bringing unlisted players into the match-day mix. Those moves — Gamble stepping into five-eighth, Halasima shifting to centre, Niukore back in the pack — are concrete responses to absences confirmed in the late mail and set the immediate tactical frame for the Round 3 encounter.
Back where the story began, the late mail for the knights vs warriors matchup has turned what might have been a settled selection into a series of last-minute adaptations, leaving both squads altered but still determined to make the reshuffles count on game day.
