Schoolboy rugby union star Abraham Papalii (pictured) is set to make his NYC debut in the Vodafone Junior Warriors' match against the Sydney Roosters at Eden Park on Saturday night. Photo: Photosport.
A remodelled Vodafone Junior Warriors side will take on the Sydney Roosters in Saturday nights second-round NYC match at Eden Park (5.15pm kick-off).
Playing the curtain-raiser to the NRL teams ED3N RISE WITH US contest, the Vodafone Junior Warriors could feature five players making their NYC debuts and another four making just their second appearances after being initiated in last weekends unexpected 8-46 loss to Parramatta.
The newcomers in the starting line-up are Lafu Feagaiga in the centres and Vince Afoa in the front row while dynamic ex-rugby union schoolboy star Abraham Papalii, back rower Stedman Lefau and winger Esera Esera are on a six-man bench.
There are also combination changes. Second-year Vodafone Junior Warrior Ngataua Hukatai is at fullback after starting in the centres against the Eels while Tuimoala Lolohea, who wore the No 1 jersey last week, will start on the wing and David Fusitua is in the centres after starting on the wing against Parramatta.
The starting front rowers have changed with Afoa joined by Sam Lisone (used off the bench at Parramatta Stadium) and Eric Newbigging moving up from the bench.
The four players who appeared last week but are not being used against the Roosters are Sione Feao, props James Taylor and Tama Koopu and second rower Kouma Samson.
We had a disappointing day against the Eels but at this stage of the season its also important to have a look at different players in the squad to ensure they have an early experience of the competition, said Vodafone Junior Warriors head coach John Ackland.
We also need to try some players in other roles so we have a sense of their ability to cover other positions.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors go into Saturdays encounter knowing they won the first two home games the club took to Eden Park, beating Parramatta 20-16 in 2011 and Manly 30-16 last year.
In the Roosters they face a side coming off a 26-24 win against South Sydney.
There were no redeeming features in the Vodafone Junior Warriors performance last week, aside from captain David Bhanas heroic defensive effort in making a mammoth 52 tackles. He has started the new campaign where he finished in 2012 as the competitions top tackler.
When they last met, the Roosters knocked the Vodafone Junior Warriors out of the finals last September.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Eden Park, Auckland
5.15pm, Saturday, March 16
Referees: Matt Noyen & Chris Sutton
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 NGATAUA HUKATAI
2 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
3 LAFU FEAGAIGA
4 DAVID FUSITUA
5 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6 EKO MALU
7 MASON LINO
8 VINCENT AFOA
9 MICHAEL SIO
10 SAM LISONE
11 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12 ERIC NEWBIGGING
13 DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
15 ABRAHAM PAPALII
16 ALBERT VETE
17 STEDMAN LEFAU
18 ESERA ESERA
20 TRENT BISHOP
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
A remodelled Vodafone Junior Warriors side will take on the Sydney Roosters in Saturday nights second-round NYC match at Eden Park (5.15pm kick-off).
Playing the curtain-raiser to the NRL teams ED3N RISE WITH US contest, the Vodafone Junior Warriors could feature five players making their NYC debuts and another four making just their second appearances after being initiated in last weekends unexpected 8-46 loss to Parramatta.
The newcomers in the starting line-up are Lafu Feagaiga in the centres and Vince Afoa in the front row while dynamic ex-rugby union schoolboy star Abraham Papalii, back rower Stedman Lefau and winger Esera Esera are on a six-man bench.
There are also combination changes. Second-year Vodafone Junior Warrior Ngataua Hukatai is at fullback after starting in the centres against the Eels while Tuimoala Lolohea, who wore the No 1 jersey last week, will start on the wing and David Fusitua is in the centres after starting on the wing against Parramatta.
The starting front rowers have changed with Afoa joined by Sam Lisone (used off the bench at Parramatta Stadium) and Eric Newbigging moving up from the bench.
The four players who appeared last week but are not being used against the Roosters are Sione Feao, props James Taylor and Tama Koopu and second rower Kouma Samson.
We had a disappointing day against the Eels but at this stage of the season its also important to have a look at different players in the squad to ensure they have an early experience of the competition, said Vodafone Junior Warriors head coach John Ackland.
We also need to try some players in other roles so we have a sense of their ability to cover other positions.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors go into Saturdays encounter knowing they won the first two home games the club took to Eden Park, beating Parramatta 20-16 in 2011 and Manly 30-16 last year.
In the Roosters they face a side coming off a 26-24 win against South Sydney.
There were no redeeming features in the Vodafone Junior Warriors performance last week, aside from captain David Bhanas heroic defensive effort in making a mammoth 52 tackles. He has started the new campaign where he finished in 2012 as the competitions top tackler.
When they last met, the Roosters knocked the Vodafone Junior Warriors out of the finals last September.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Eden Park, Auckland
5.15pm, Saturday, March 16
Referees: Matt Noyen & Chris Sutton
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 NGATAUA HUKATAI
2 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
3 LAFU FEAGAIGA
4 DAVID FUSITUA
5 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6 EKO MALU
7 MASON LINO
8 VINCENT AFOA
9 MICHAEL SIO
10 SAM LISONE
11 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12 ERIC NEWBIGGING
13 DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
15 ABRAHAM PAPALII
16 ALBERT VETE
17 STEDMAN LEFAU
18 ESERA ESERA
20 TRENT BISHOP
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
