Dane Nielsen has been confirmed to return from his rib injury with winger Bill Tupou making way for him for the Vodafone Warriors sixth-round NRL clash against the Raiders at Canberra Stadium tonight (7.30pm kick-off local time; 9.30pm NZT). Photo: Photosport.
With Elijah Taylor (rib cartilage) and Jacob Lillyman (ankle) unable to travel with the side, the interchange now comprises Sam Rapira, Ben Henry, Pita Godinet and Sebastine Ikahihifo.
Rapira, the players player of the day in last weeks 22-24 loss to South Sydney, was originally named to start tonight but head coach Matthew Elliott has swapped him with Ben Matulino.
Lillymans unavailability means the Vodafone Warriors have been forced to put on hold plans to reunite their first-choice propping combination of Lillyman, Rapira, Matulino and Russell Packer which hasnt been used since round 13 on June 3 last year.
Taylors injury delays his opportunity to make his milestone 50th NRL appearance.
While he waits, captain Simon Mannering plays his 171st match tonight, moving into outright fourth spot on the clubs list of all-time appearances.
The Vodafone Warriors, like many teams in the NRL, have found Canberra Stadium one of the most challenging venues to win at throughout their history.
In 10 visits to the venue theyve won just once, that success as long ago as 1997. Their only other triumph was in a one-off encounter at Manuka Oval in 2001.
Four of the Vodafone Warriors coaching staff have strong connections with the Australian capital.
Head coach Elliott coached the Raiders from 2001-2006; assistant coach McFadden played 76 times for them from 1997-2001 and was assistant coach from 2010-2012; head strength and conditioning coach Carl Jennings had the same role with Canberra from 2001-2006; and Ruben Wiki played 225 of his 312 NRL games for the Raiders from 1993-2004.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
7.30pm, Saturday, April 13
Referees: Adam Devcich and Chris James
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
21DANE NIELSEN
3NGANI LAUMAPE
4KONRAD HURRELL
5MANU VATUVEI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
14BEN MATULINO
9NATHAN FRIEND
10RUSSELL PACKER
11FELETI MATEO
12SIMON MANNERING (c)
13TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
8SAM RAPIRA
17PITA GODINET
18BEN HENRY
20SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
With Elijah Taylor (rib cartilage) and Jacob Lillyman (ankle) unable to travel with the side, the interchange now comprises Sam Rapira, Ben Henry, Pita Godinet and Sebastine Ikahihifo.
Rapira, the players player of the day in last weeks 22-24 loss to South Sydney, was originally named to start tonight but head coach Matthew Elliott has swapped him with Ben Matulino.
Lillymans unavailability means the Vodafone Warriors have been forced to put on hold plans to reunite their first-choice propping combination of Lillyman, Rapira, Matulino and Russell Packer which hasnt been used since round 13 on June 3 last year.
Taylors injury delays his opportunity to make his milestone 50th NRL appearance.
While he waits, captain Simon Mannering plays his 171st match tonight, moving into outright fourth spot on the clubs list of all-time appearances.
The Vodafone Warriors, like many teams in the NRL, have found Canberra Stadium one of the most challenging venues to win at throughout their history.
In 10 visits to the venue theyve won just once, that success as long ago as 1997. Their only other triumph was in a one-off encounter at Manuka Oval in 2001.
Four of the Vodafone Warriors coaching staff have strong connections with the Australian capital.
Head coach Elliott coached the Raiders from 2001-2006; assistant coach McFadden played 76 times for them from 1997-2001 and was assistant coach from 2010-2012; head strength and conditioning coach Carl Jennings had the same role with Canberra from 2001-2006; and Ruben Wiki played 225 of his 312 NRL games for the Raiders from 1993-2004.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
7.30pm, Saturday, April 13
Referees: Adam Devcich and Chris James
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
21DANE NIELSEN
3NGANI LAUMAPE
4KONRAD HURRELL
5MANU VATUVEI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
14BEN MATULINO
9NATHAN FRIEND
10RUSSELL PACKER
11FELETI MATEO
12SIMON MANNERING (c)
13TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
8SAM RAPIRA
17PITA GODINET
18BEN HENRY
20SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
