Hanson to debut for injury-hit Warriors

The playmaker's long-awaited NRL call-up comes after concussion protocols for CHT and CNK, while Kurt Capewell is also sidelined.

The Warriors’ spine depth is being tested ahead of the unbeaten side’s Round 3 road trip to Newcastle, with Chanel Harris-Tavita and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad entering concussion protocols after Friday’s big win over Canberra.

Naturally, Taine Tuaupiki has been named at fullback after a superb 70-minute showing against the Raiders. Nicoll-Klokstad would almost certainly have shifted to the No.6 if fit, but the jersey instead goes to 22-year-old Luke Hanson for his maiden NRL appearance.

The tenacious Penrith junior has played 39 NSW Cup games for the Warriors since arriving at the end of 2023 and scored two tries in last year’s State Championship victory over Burleigh Bears. Importantly, he played 11 times in 2025 alongside the current top-grade No.7, in-form Tanah Boyd.

Hanson has been in great touch to start the 2026 NSW Cup season, averaging 133 running metres, and racking up three try assists and two line-breaks.

Elsewhere, Kurt Capewell is set to be sidelined for a month with the calf injury that ruled him out during the Round 2 warm-up. Leka Halasima, who scored two tries in an outstanding 80-minute display against the Raiders at short notice, will start alongside Jacob Laban.

Marata Niukore comes into the 17 after a solid return from injury in NSW Cup last week; ironically, the off-contract veteran is being linked with a move to the Knights in 2027. Morgan Gannon and Alofiana Khan-Pereira round out the 19.

There is some doubt over Adam Pompey play as he and his partner await the birth of their child.

Meanwhile, Broncos-bound Mitch Barnett has been named in the reserves and could be a late inclusion for what would be his first appearance since suffering an ACL injury in Round 13 last season.

The Knights, who are also 2-0, are also dealing with a key-position injury crisis with Kalyn Ponga and Dylan Brown both leaving the field during the first half of Sunday’s thrashing of Manly.

Livewire Fletcher Sharpe returns from injury in the five-eighth spot, while Fletcher Hunt lines up at fullback after coming on for Ponga and performing strongly.

The big news in the Warriors’ NSW Cup team list for Round 3 is the naming of 17-year-old Hornby Panthers product Bishop Neal in the second-row.

Player of the match in the 2025 Harold Matthews Cup grand final win, the young giant has been dominant in three SG Ball games and two Jersey Flegg appearances in 2026, scoring four tries and making a slew of line-breaks.

Jersey Flegg half Jack Thompson — who featured in both NRL trials in February — also steps up for a NSW Cup debut, filling Hanson’s five-eighth spot.

The Warriors play the Knights at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday afternoon prior to the NRL clash.