Halfback Mason Lino is a big loss for the Vodafone Junior Warriors for their NYC clash against Penrith tonight. Photo: Photosport.
Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland has some changes to his side for tonights 10th-round battle with table-topping NYC side Penrith at Centrebet Stadium (5.15pm kick-off; 7.15pm NZT).
First-choice halfback Mason Lino and frontline prop James Taylor are both out with injuries while Ackland is also trying another option on the right wing with Metia Lesati coming in to make his NYC debut.
Linos loss is a significant setback both as the sides playmaker and goal-kicker.
Eko Malu, used only twice previously this season, starts at halfback while centre Solomone Kata will take over the goal-kicking. In Taylors absence Vince Afoa starts in the front row along with the well-established Albert Vete.
Lisati (19), a Mount Roskill Grammar School product and Bay Roskill junior, comes into the side for Viliami Lolohea.
After a surprising 30-32 loss to Gold Coast two weeks ago, the Vodafone Junior Warriors impressed in their 34-24 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown at Westpac Stadium last Saturday.
They lie fifth on 11 points on the points table going into tonights clash, five points behind the Panthers who have lost only one game this season.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS
Centrebet Stadium, Penrith
5.15pm, Saturday, May 18
Referee: Ziggy Przeklaska-Adamski
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1NGATAUA HUKATAI
2METIA LESATI
3SOLOMONE KATA
4DAVID FUSITUA
5ALAMOTI FINAU
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8VINCE AFOA
9MICHAEL SIO
10ALBERT VETE
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14KURT ROBINSON
15SAM LISONE
16ERIC NEWBIGGING
17KOUMA SAMSON
18STEDMAN LEFAU
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland has some changes to his side for tonights 10th-round battle with table-topping NYC side Penrith at Centrebet Stadium (5.15pm kick-off; 7.15pm NZT).
First-choice halfback Mason Lino and frontline prop James Taylor are both out with injuries while Ackland is also trying another option on the right wing with Metia Lesati coming in to make his NYC debut.
Linos loss is a significant setback both as the sides playmaker and goal-kicker.
Eko Malu, used only twice previously this season, starts at halfback while centre Solomone Kata will take over the goal-kicking. In Taylors absence Vince Afoa starts in the front row along with the well-established Albert Vete.
Lisati (19), a Mount Roskill Grammar School product and Bay Roskill junior, comes into the side for Viliami Lolohea.
After a surprising 30-32 loss to Gold Coast two weeks ago, the Vodafone Junior Warriors impressed in their 34-24 victory over Canterbury-Bankstown at Westpac Stadium last Saturday.
They lie fifth on 11 points on the points table going into tonights clash, five points behind the Panthers who have lost only one game this season.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS
Centrebet Stadium, Penrith
5.15pm, Saturday, May 18
Referee: Ziggy Przeklaska-Adamski
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1NGATAUA HUKATAI
2METIA LESATI
3SOLOMONE KATA
4DAVID FUSITUA
5ALAMOTI FINAU
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8VINCE AFOA
9MICHAEL SIO
10ALBERT VETE
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14KURT ROBINSON
15SAM LISONE
16ERIC NEWBIGGING
17KOUMA SAMSON
18STEDMAN LEFAU
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
