You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Manu Vatuvei during a media session after announcing his departure from the Vodafone Warriors for English Super League Club Salford. Mt Smart Stadium Auckland, New Zealand. NRL Rugby League. Tuesday 11 July 2017 © Copyright photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz

No late line-up changes have been made for the Vodafone Warriors’ 19th-round NRL encounter with the Penrith Panthers at ‘Manu Vatuvei’ Stadium tonight.

The club was given dispensation to list departing legend Vatuvei in his familiar No 5 jersey but Ken Maumalo will be on the wing in #21.

The rest of the starting is as selected on Tuesday while those omitted from the extended bench are Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Chris Satae, Jazz Tevaga and Mason Lino.

Issac Luke starts at hooker with Solomone Kata back in the centres and Sam Lisone returning on the bench.

Among the festivities planned for Vatuvei’s farewell tonight, the Vodafone Warriors are giving out inflatable hands at the gates and in the membership clubrooms as a tribute to his signature try-scoring celebration.

Members are also being encouraged to check in at the membership clubrooms where a small number of limited edition Vatuvei posters will be available on a first in, first served basis.

Vatuvei’s team-mates, meanwhile, will have his name, Vodafone Warrior number and signature embroidered into their playing jerseys. They will warm up in special Canterbury tees with Vatuvei #115 on the back.

Before kick-off, Vatuvei will also walk onto the field he’s graced for more than a decade one last time.

 

VODAFONE WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS

Manu Vatuvei Stadium, Auckland

8.00pm (NZT), Friday, July 14

 

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)

2 DAVID FUSITU’A

3 BLAKE AYSHFORD 

4 SOLOMONE KATA

21 KEN MAUMALO

6 KIERAN FORAN

7 SHAUN JOHNSON

8 JACOB LILLYMAN

9 ISSAC LUKE

10 BEN MATULINO

11 BODENE THOMPSON

12 BUNTY AFOA

13 SIMON MANNERING

Interchange:

14 MAFOA’AEATA HINGANO

15 SAM LISONE 

16 JAMES GAVET

17 LIGI SAO

HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY

Acknowledgement of Country

The New Zealand Warriors honour the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae and their mana motuhake.

Principal Partner

Major Partners

Official Sponsors

View All Partners