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It’s do-or-die for NOLA on Saturday night when they play host to the Warriors. The Gold have had a disappointing campaign and now trail Miami by 7 points for the final berth in the postseason, but they’ll have to front up against a Warriors side who were dominant winners at Salt Lake early in the season and have a losing streak they would very much like to bring to an end.
| CURRENT STANDINGS |
4-9-0 (L3) East 5th
8-5-0 (L3) West 2nd
| STARTING LINEUP CHANGES |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Jarred Adams | Bart Vermeulen |
| 5 | Jay Tuivaiti | William Waguespack |
| 6 | Cam Dolan | Tupou Afungia |
| 11 | Ed Fidow | Julian Roberts |
| 12 | Nikolai Foliaki | JP du Plessis |
| 14 | Harley Wheeler | Nikolai Foliaki |
|
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Aki Seiuli | Fred Apulu |
| 2 | Liam Coltman | Tuvere Vugakoto |
| 3 | Tonga Kofe | Remsy Lemisio |
| 6 | Bailey Wilson | Lance Williams |
| 12 | Paul Lasike | D’Angelo Leuila |
| 14 | Nolan Tuamoheloa | Jordan Trainor |
| CAPPED INTERNATIONALS |
(13) – Mullen, Dolan, Tonga’uiha, Carty, Taufete’e, Harmon, de Haas (USA), Mau’u, Fidow (Samoa), Foliaki (Tonga), Coats, Matchem, Botchar (Canada)
(9) – Seiuli (Samoa), Coltman (New Zealand), Jensen, Wilson, Mano, Lasike, MacLellan, Uhila (USA), Benn (Canada)
| NOTABLE ABSENTEES |
– Kélian Galletier (FL), JP du Plessis (CE), Xavier Mignot (WI)
– Gavin Thornbury (LO), D’Angelo Leuila (FH/CE), Jordan Trainor (FB)
| PREDICTION |
Very warm weather is on the forecast which could make for a set piece battle. It’s a belated return for Jarred Adams at loosehead prop for the Gold after eight weeks out with injury. Ed Fidow is back on the left wing, but Xavier Mignot is ruled out on the right. The Warriors meanwhile restore their first choice front row and have the thunderous presence of Paul Lasike in the midfield. NOLA will be playing desperate but the Warriors have a tendency to pounce on carelessness. Utah are favorites on the road.
| LINEUPS |
NOLA GOLD
1 Jarred Adams, 2 Ale Lopeti, 3 Paul Mullen, 4 Chase Jones, 5 Jay Tuivaiti, 6 Cam Dolan, 7 Moni Tonga’uiha (capt.), 8 Jonah Mau’u, 9 Luke Campbell, 10 Luke Carty, 11 Ed Fidow, 12 Nikolai Foliaki, 13 Isaac Te Tamaki, 14 Harley Wheeler, 15 Cooper Coats
Replacements: 16 Joe Taufete’e, 17 Matt Harmon, 18 Tyler Matchem, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Aidan King, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Vilimoni Koroi, 23 Ross Depperschmidt
UTAH WARRIORS
1 Aki Seiuli (capt.), 2 Liam Coltman, 3 Tonga Kofe, 4 Frank Lochore, 5 Matt Jensen, 6 Bailey Wilson, 7 Kalisi Moli, 8 Dylan Nel, 9 Zion Going, 10 Joel Hodgson, 11 Joe Mano, 12 Paul Lasike, 13 Cole Semu, 14 Nolan Tuamoheloa, 15 Nic Benn
Replacements: 16 Phil Bradford, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Angus MacLellan, 19 Saia Uhila, 20 Jeremiah Noaese, 21 Logan Crowley, 22 Lance Williams, 23 Sione Mahe
| MATCH INFO |
Date: Saturday, May 24
Venue: The Gold Mine, Metairie
Kickoff: 18:00 local (16:00 Pacific, 19:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: sunny, 84°F (29°C), humidex 90°F (32°C), wind S 9-14mph (14-22km/h)
Broadcasts: ESPN+, Gulf Coast Sports, KJZZ, Sky Sports NZ, The Rugby Network
| OFFICIALS |
Referee: Peter Pender (Canada)
Assistants: Mike Lawrenson (USA) & Marty Steffens (USA)
TMO: Cam Russell (Canada)
| HISTORY |
HEAD-TO-HEAD (7) – NOLA 6, Utah 1
2025-03-01 – Utah Warriors 55, NOLA Gold 21 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2024-05-18 – NOLA Gold 21, Utah Warriors 14 (The Gold Mine)
2023-03-18 – NOLA Gold 37, Utah Warriors 14 (The Gold Mine)
2021-05-22 – NOLA Gold 29, Utah Warriors 24 (The Gold Mine)
2019-04-13 – NOLA Gold 28, Utah Warriors 19 (Archbishop Stadium Stadium)
2019-03-02 – Utah Warriors 19, NOLA Gold 21 (Zions Bank Stadium)
2018-06-16 – Utah Warriors, 43, NOLA Gold 46 (Zions Bank Stadium)
