The Warriors will unleash prized recruit James Fisher-Harris in their first game of 2025 this week.
The four-time Panthers premiership prop has moved across the Tasman and will lead the New Zealand side out against Cronulla at Shark Park on Friday night.
The Warriors are yet to decide a new skipper following the sudden retirement of Tohu Harris last month, but Fisher-Harris would be considered a leading contender for the job.
READ MORE: Konstas sent home, Marnus mystery after training snub
READ MORE: Former world No.1 retires on court amid doping suspension comeback
READ MORE: League greats back move to stamp out ‘blight on the game’
He played 203 NRL games for Penrith but jumped ship at the end of last season for family reasons, and is one of the biggest transfers of the NRL off-season.
The fixture kicks off the 2025 pre-season challenge, which features 17 games across three weeks.
The Panthers and Raiders will clash – also at Shark Park – on Saturday, before those teams fly out to Las Vegas where the season proper will begin in March.
James Fisher-Harris in action for the Kiwis. Getty
The other 13 teams will contest the NRL’s pre-season challenge across February, while the NRL’s All Stars fixture will also be held on Saturday week.
The prize for winning the pre-season challenge is $100,000 to the victorious club.
With each team playing only two official games, the ladder is decided largely on bonus points and differential.
NRL clubs can organise unofficial pre-season games, such as the Dolphins and Broncos have done for this weekend.
Both Brisbane-based teams will take on Queensland Cup sides.
WEEK 1 TEAMS
Friday
Cronulla Sharks v Warriors at Sharks Stadium, 7.30pm
Sharks: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Mawene Hiroti 4. Kayal Iro 5. Samuel Stonestreet 6. Daniel Atkinson 7. Niwhai Puru 8. Braden Hamlin-Uele 9. Jayden Berrell 10. Thomas Hazelton 11. Siosifa Talakai 12. Billy Burns 13. Oregon Kaufusi 14. Hohepa Puru 15. Tuku Hau Tapuha 16. Lachlan Crouch 17. Blake Hosking 18. Chris Veaila 19. Kyle Pickering 20. Michael Gabrael 21. Bradley Fearnley 22. Taj Ford 23. Riley Pollard 24. Eli Clark 25. Kristian Dixon 26. Felix Faatili 27. Samuel McCulloch
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jacob Laban 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Erin Clark 14. Demitric Vaimauga 15. Marata Niukore 16. Moala Graham-Taufa 17. Sio Kali 18. Edward Kosi 20. Luke Hanson 21. Jett Cleary 22. Taine Tuaupiki 23. Daeon Amituanai 24. Bunty Afoa 25. Eddie Ieremia 26. Sam Healey 27. Dylan Walker 28. Tanner Stowers-Smith 29. Freddy Lussick
Saturday
Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders at Sharks Stadium, 7.30pm
Panthers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. Jesse McLean 3. Sione Fonua 4. Asu Kepaoa 5. Casey McLean 6. Jack Cole 7. Brad Schneider 8. Luron Patea 9. Luke Sommerton 10. Preston Riki 11. Mavrik Geyer 12. Isaiah Papali’i 13. Matt Eisenhuth 14. Trent Toelau 15. Harrison Hassett 16. John Sagaga 17. Riley Wake 18. Zack Lamont 19. Niko Apelu 20. David Fale 21. Falefa Letoi 22. Billy Scott 23. Jaxen Edgar 24. Zac Lipowicz 25. Samuel Lane 26. Billy Phillips 27. Nick Murphy
Raiders: 1. Chevy Stewart 2. Michael Asomua 3. Albert Hopoate 4. Manaia Waitere 5. Jed Stuart 6. Adam Cook 7. Ethan Sanders 8. Jordan Martin 9. Owen Pattie 10. Pasami Saulo 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Matt Nicholson 13. Myles Martin 14. Ethan Alaia 15. Izaac Tu’itupou 16. Regan Carr 17. Mark Tuialii 18. Keahn Skipps 19. Jenson Taumoepeau 20. Jalen Afamasaga 21. Peter Taateo 22. Shaun Packer 23. Jake Clydsdale 24. Joseph Roddy 25. Noah Martin 26. Ata Mariota 27. Mitchell Prest 28. Jaxon Lavender
PRE-SEASON CHALLENGE SCHEDULE
All times in AEDT
Week 1
Friday, February 7
Sharks v Warriors at Sharks Stadium, 7.30pm
Saturday, February 8
Panthers v Raiders at Sharks Stadium, 7.30pm
Week 2
Thursday, February 13
Knights v Eels at McDonald Jones Stadium, 6pm
Cowboys v Dolphins at Barlow Park (Cairns), 8pm
Saturday, February 15
Warriors v Storm at Go Media Stadium, 1.30pm
Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles at Industree Group Stadium, 3.30pm
Sunday, February 16
Broncos v Titans at Clive Berghofer Stadium (Toowoomba), 3.30pm
Bulldogs v Tigers at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 5.30pm
Dragons v Roosters at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, 7.30pm
Week 3
Friday, February 21
Sea Eagles v Panthers at Leichhardt Oval, 6pm
Tigers v Eels at Leichhardt Oval, 8pm
Saturday, February 22
Dragons v Rabbitohs at Glen Willow Stadium (Mudgee), 3pm
Broncos v Bulldogs at Dolphins Stadium, 5.30pm
Dolphins v Titans at Dolphins Stadium, 7.30pm
Sunday, February 23
Storm v Cowboys at Casey Fields (Cranbourne East, Victoria), 2pm
Roosters v Knights at Industree Group Stadium, 4pm
NRL ALL STARS SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 15 at CommBank Stadium
4.40pm: Touch football Indigenous v Maori All Stars
5.50pm: Women’s Indigenous v Maori All Stars
8.10pm: Men’s Indigenous v Maori All Stars
