Vodafone Junior Warriors centre Solomone Kata scoring his third try in last Sunday's 52-20 win against the Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium. Photo: Photosport.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors need to beat the Sydney Roosters in todays 14th-round NYC clash at Allianz Stadium (kick-off 4.15pm local time; 6.16pm NZT) if theyre to reclaim fourth spot on the ladder.
Theyve been bumped down to fifth place following Melbournes 36-8 trouncing of Newcastle this afternoon but victory over the third-placed Roosters would put them back where they began the round.
They go into the match on the back of two decisive victories after thumping the Broncos 46-20 on June 3 and Manly 52-20 last Sunday.
The two matches were not only rewarding for the Vodafone Juniors Warriors as a team but hugely profitable for explosive centre Solomone Kata who bagged a total of 46 points in the two games. After recently taking over the goal-kicking duties from the injured Mason Lino, Kata now has 78 points from 10 tries and 19 goals in nine outings.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors take a slightly changed line-up into the match.
Winger Viliami Kaveinga is out with a hamstring injury, replaced by Alamoti Finau, wholl make his sixth appearance of the season.
Making his NYC debut off the bench will be utility Sam Cook while prop James Taylor returns from injury and Sione Feao reappears for just his second match of the season.
While Kata will be keen to add to his points harvest so will standoff Tuimoala Lolohea who dazzled with two tries against Manly last week and has now scored 10 tries in his last nine outings.
The match also presents the Vodafone Junior Warriors with an opportunity for redemption, having been beaten by the Roosters in the final moments at Eden Park in March.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Allianz Stadium, Randwick
4.15pm, Sunday, June 16
Referee: Chris Sutton
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1DAVID FUSITUA
2ALAMOTI FINAU
3SOLOMONE KATA
4KEN MAUMALO
5VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8ALBERT VETE
9MICHAEL SIO
10ABRAHAM PAPALII
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14SAM COOK
15SAM LISONE
17JAMES TAYLOR
18SIONE FEAO
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
The Vodafone Junior Warriors need to beat the Sydney Roosters in todays 14th-round NYC clash at Allianz Stadium (kick-off 4.15pm local time; 6.16pm NZT) if theyre to reclaim fourth spot on the ladder.
Theyve been bumped down to fifth place following Melbournes 36-8 trouncing of Newcastle this afternoon but victory over the third-placed Roosters would put them back where they began the round.
They go into the match on the back of two decisive victories after thumping the Broncos 46-20 on June 3 and Manly 52-20 last Sunday.
The two matches were not only rewarding for the Vodafone Juniors Warriors as a team but hugely profitable for explosive centre Solomone Kata who bagged a total of 46 points in the two games. After recently taking over the goal-kicking duties from the injured Mason Lino, Kata now has 78 points from 10 tries and 19 goals in nine outings.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors take a slightly changed line-up into the match.
Winger Viliami Kaveinga is out with a hamstring injury, replaced by Alamoti Finau, wholl make his sixth appearance of the season.
Making his NYC debut off the bench will be utility Sam Cook while prop James Taylor returns from injury and Sione Feao reappears for just his second match of the season.
While Kata will be keen to add to his points harvest so will standoff Tuimoala Lolohea who dazzled with two tries against Manly last week and has now scored 10 tries in his last nine outings.
The match also presents the Vodafone Junior Warriors with an opportunity for redemption, having been beaten by the Roosters in the final moments at Eden Park in March.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Allianz Stadium, Randwick
4.15pm, Sunday, June 16
Referee: Chris Sutton
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1DAVID FUSITUA
2ALAMOTI FINAU
3SOLOMONE KATA
4KEN MAUMALO
5VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8ALBERT VETE
9MICHAEL SIO
10ABRAHAM PAPALII
11RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
13DAVID BHANA (c)
Interchange:
14SAM COOK
15SAM LISONE
17JAMES TAYLOR
18SIONE FEAO
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
