Arabic version: تويا يواجه فارنوورث في نهائي تمهيدي تحكمه روابط عائلية

According to ABC News, Roosters centre Robert Toia will take on Dolphins star Herbie Farnworth in Friday night’s preliminary final at a sold-out Lang Park, a contest with strong personal ties for the 22-year-old Redcliffe junior.

Toia said Roosters teammates Salesi Foketi and Siua Wong are his cousins through their grandparents. Wong will line up in the second row on the Tricolours’ right edge, while Foketi has secured a place in the run-on side in recent weeks. The three previously lived together in the Roosters academy house and played in a junior grand final against a Penrith team featuring Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa.

Farnworth presents a major defensive assignment. The English centre leads the NRL with 161 tackle breaks and 75 offloads, and is first among centres for runs, run metres and post-contact metres. He enters the match after the Dolphins’ 26-16 finals win over the Warriors, which put the club one victory from its first grand final.

Toia said Farnworth’s work rate was underrated and that the Roosters defender hoped pressure and sound defensive movements could limit his influence. Toia has scored in both of the Roosters’ finals matches and was a key contributor alongside Mark Nawaqanitawase in the win over Cronulla. The Roosters are seeking their first grand final appearance since 2019.