Kurt Capewell made his Origin debut at centre in 2020. Photo: www.photosport.nz
NRL playoffs: NZ Warriors v Penrith Panthers
Kickoff 6.05pm, Saturday, 13 September
Go Media Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Second-rower Kurt Capewell has been designated for a return to the midfield, when NZ Warriors face Penrith Panthers in a sudden-death NRL playoff showdown on Saturday.
Whether he is there at kickoff remains to be seen.
Capewell, 32, played a starring role among the forwards in Queensland's State of Origin triumph, but has started six games at centre for the Warriors, as they have struggled to keep their specialists healthy this season.
Last week against Manly Sea Eagles, Rocco Berry continued his cursed run, with a dislocated shoulder that will almost certainly sideline him for the rest of the season, however long that lasts.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster has named his veteran in the No.4 jersey, but has two opportunities between now and kickoff to change his line-up, something he has done often during the course the campaign.
"We've got plenty of options, experienced options too, so we'll just wait until the weekend," Webster said.
Capewell last played centre for a loss to Gold Coast Titans in July, before Webster changed tack, moving fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad there, with Taine Tuaupiki coming into the side at the back.
"Capey had a great Origin, we moved him back to centre and - in Capey's words and my words - it didn't go to plan," he admitted last month. "We haven't had that consistency around it, but at times, people like Kurt have done an amazing job for us.
"At times, we've handled it well and other times, I wish we'd handled it better."
Berry has played just nine games this season, bringing up his 50th for the club against the Titans last month, but didn't finish four of them and couldn't start another that he'd been named for. He also copped a one-game suspension for a dangerous tackle.
His latest injury occurred five minutes into the Sea Eagles game, as he tried to stop Manly winger Lehi Hopoate scoring a try. Instead of re-arranging his team, Webster inserted teenage forward Leka Halasima into centre and later described him as a "shining light" in his unfamiliar role.
Otherwise, the Warriors have stuck with a tried-and-true line-up, with workaholic front-rower Jackson Ford returning from a three-game suspension and hooker Wayde Egan back from a niggly hip complaint.
Meanwhile, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will have NSW Origin stars Brian To'o and Liam Martin back on deck, after extended injury breaks, but hooker Mitch Kenny will miss the contest.
The Penrith line-up also includes Kiwis Casey McLean, Moses Leota, Scott Sorenson Isaiah Papali'i and Trent Toelau.
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Kurt Capewell, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd. 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark
Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Eddie Ieremoa-Toeava, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith
Reserves: 18. Taine Tuaupiki, 20. Sam Healey, 21. Kalani Going, 22. Bunty Afoa, 23. Ed Kosi
Panthers: 1. Dylan Edwards, 2. Paul Alamoti, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Casey McLean, 5. Brian To'o, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Nathan Cleary, 8. Moses Leota, 9. Luke Sommerton, 10. Lindsay Smith, 11. Scott Sorenson, 12. Liam Martin, 13. Isaah Yeo
Interchange: 14. Brad Schneider, 15. Liam Henry, 16. Isaiah Papali'i, 17. Luke Garner
Reserves: 18. Thomas Jenkins, 19. Matt Eisenhuth, 20. Daine Laurie, 21. Mavrik Geyer, 22. Trent Toelau
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