Warriors expect Jackson Ford and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to return for NRL finals

The New Zealand Warriors could see the return of forward Jackson Ford and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak for their upcoming NRL qualifying final against the Dolphins this Saturday. Ford has been sidelined for 12 weeks following a pectoral muscle tear, while Watene-Zelezniak is working to return three weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured collarbone. Coach Andrew Webster is currently evaluating the fitness of both players before finalizing his roster for the home match at Go Media Stadium. The Warriors previously recorded a strong performance against the Panthers at this venue earlier in August. Should they be cleared to play, the inclusion of Ford and Watene-Zelezniak would alter the interchange rotation, which has been anchored recently by Tanner Stowers-Smith and Demitric Vaimauga alongside starters James Fisher-Harris and Mitchell Barnett. The winner of this clash advances further in the postseason, joining other teams competing in the opening weekend of finals.

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