Chad Townsend and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in, Reece Walsh out for Warriors against Dragons

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Warriors fullback Reece Walsh has been ruled out of Friday’s match against the Dragons.

Warriors coach Nathan Brown has rushed new recruits Chad Townsend and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak straight into his starting side for Friday’s clash against St George Illawarra, while taking a cautious approach with Reece Walsh.

After a minor hamstring strain prevented Walsh from making his State of Origin debut for Queensland on Sunday, Brown has decided not to risk the 18-year-old fullback despite the crucial nature of the match on the NSW Central Coast.

The 11th-placed Warriors, who have lost their last three games and five of their last six, desperately need a win to stay in touch with the top eight. And with the Dragons just two points ahead of them on the ladder, fixtures between fellow mid-table clubs take on added importance as the race to the finals heats up.

Frustratingly, Brown remains unsure how serious Walsh’s hamstring injury is.

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All State of Origin players are required to isolate for three days before going back into their club bubbles, meaning the Warriors cannot access Walsh until he returns on Wednesday.

“Whether it’s a short term one or a long term one … we’re not sure,” Brown told Newstalk ZB on Tuesday night.

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Kiwis captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been named on the wing for the Warriors.

“We don’t know the extent of that yet.”

Walsh’s absence has resulted in captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reverting to fullback, with Kiwis teammate Watene-Zelezniak named on the wing after completing a mid-season switch from the Bulldogs last week.

Former Sharks halfback Townsend, who has signed with the Warriors until the end of the season, comes into the No 7 jersey to link up with Kodi Nikorima in the halves

The match marks the start of Townsend’s second stint at the Warriors after making 41 appearances for the club between 2014-15.

Watene-Zelezniak and Townsend only trained with the squad for the first time on Monday. But, with 330 NRL games between them, Brown was always likely to call on the pair’s experience immediately as he attempts to get the Warriors’ season back on track.

Their arrival is particularly timely following the loss of Walsh’s X-factor as well as centre Euan Aitken and loose forward Josh Curran, who are both in isolation for the next two weeks.

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Chad Townsend is set to make his first appareance for the Warriors since 2015.

Aitken has reportedly joined Curran in returning a negative test but the pair will still be forced to isolate until next weekend, as planned, due to being considered close contacts of a flight attendant – who has since tested positive for Covid-19 – due to being on the same flight.

With Aitken out, Marcelo Montoya has moved into the centres while Tohu Harris has taken Curran’s spot in the No 13 jersey.

Harris’ positional switch has seen Eliesa Katoa brought into the second row and Ben Murdoch-Masila moved to the edge after being used at prop in the loss to Newcastle. Kane Evans has taken Murdoch-Masila’s place in the front row.

Brown has also been able to welcome back hooker Wayde Egan, who missed the Knights game due to a nasty head knock. Egan’s return has pushed Jazz Tevaga back to the bench, while rookie dummy-half Taniela Otukolo is on the extended reserves list.

The Warriors beat the Dragons back in April, with Tuivasa-Sheck scoring the match-winner in a 20-14 victory at Kogarah Oval.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Adam Pompey, Marcelo Montoya, Edward Kosi, Kodi Nikorima, Chad Townsend, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Kane Evans, Eliesa Katoa, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Tohu Harris. Interchange (from): Jazz Tevaga, Leeson Ah Mau, Bunty Afoa, Bayley Sironen, Rocco Berry, Jack Murchie, Taniela Otukolo, Sean O’Sullivan