Fullback Ngataua Hukatai (pictured) is missing for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in today's NYC clash against Newcastle. Photo: Photosport.
A spot inside the top four beckons for the Vodafone Junior Warriors when they face Newcastle in todays 11th-round NYC encounter at Mount Smart Stadium (1.45pm kick-off; 7.15pm NZT).
They go into the match sitting in fifth spot on 13 points from six wins and a draw in their first 10 outings with fourth-placed Brisbane just a point ahead in fourth.
They take on a Newcastle side running 10th in the competition with a four win-six loss record.
Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland has been forced to shuffle his side again. Having lost key playmaker Mason Lino and frontline prop James Taylor recently, hes also without first-choice fullback Ngataua Hukatai. In his absence the talented David Fusitua switches to fullback with Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard coming out of the second row to start in the centres. His place in the back row is taken by Eric Newbigging.
Ackland named an eight-man bench initially. The players dropping off are Viliami Lolohea, Matiu Love-Henry, Tama Koopu and Toafofoa Sipley.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors come into the contest buoyed by back-to-back wins over top eight side Canterbury-Bankstown and then-competition leader Penrith last Saturday night.
Among the outstanding performers in the 38-32 win was prop Albert Vete who carried the ball a game-high 21 times for 176 metres. Second rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner again underlined his quality with his third try in as many games, 130 metres from 16 carries, six tackle breaks and 28 tackles.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
1.45pm, Sunday, May 26
Referee: Chris Butler and Shane Rehm
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1DAVID FUSITUA
2METIA LISATI
3SOLOMONE KATA
4ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
5ALAMOTI FINAU
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8VINCE AFOA
9MICHAEL SIO
10ALBERT VETE
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ERIC NEWBIGGING
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14KURT ROBINSON
15SAM LISONE
16STEDMAN LEFAU
17KOUMA SAMSON
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
A spot inside the top four beckons for the Vodafone Junior Warriors when they face Newcastle in todays 11th-round NYC encounter at Mount Smart Stadium (1.45pm kick-off; 7.15pm NZT).
They go into the match sitting in fifth spot on 13 points from six wins and a draw in their first 10 outings with fourth-placed Brisbane just a point ahead in fourth.
They take on a Newcastle side running 10th in the competition with a four win-six loss record.
Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland has been forced to shuffle his side again. Having lost key playmaker Mason Lino and frontline prop James Taylor recently, hes also without first-choice fullback Ngataua Hukatai. In his absence the talented David Fusitua switches to fullback with Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard coming out of the second row to start in the centres. His place in the back row is taken by Eric Newbigging.
Ackland named an eight-man bench initially. The players dropping off are Viliami Lolohea, Matiu Love-Henry, Tama Koopu and Toafofoa Sipley.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors come into the contest buoyed by back-to-back wins over top eight side Canterbury-Bankstown and then-competition leader Penrith last Saturday night.
Among the outstanding performers in the 38-32 win was prop Albert Vete who carried the ball a game-high 21 times for 176 metres. Second rower Raymond Faitala-Mariner again underlined his quality with his third try in as many games, 130 metres from 16 carries, six tackle breaks and 28 tackles.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
1.45pm, Sunday, May 26
Referee: Chris Butler and Shane Rehm
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1DAVID FUSITUA
2METIA LISATI
3SOLOMONE KATA
4ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
5ALAMOTI FINAU
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8VINCE AFOA
9MICHAEL SIO
10ALBERT VETE
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ERIC NEWBIGGING
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14KURT ROBINSON
15SAM LISONE
16STEDMAN LEFAU
17KOUMA SAMSON
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
