Vodafone Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott has had the rare luxury of being able to name the same line-up for the second straight week for Saturdays 21st-round encounter with Cronulla at Mount Smart Stadium (5.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: ZM).
The Vodafone Warriors came through injury-free from Sundays impressive 30-22 win over 2012 NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm enabling Elliott to stick with the combination he selected last week.
Named again on the right wing is 20-year-old Ngani Laumape who doubled his career try tally with a brace inside the first 12 minutes of last Sundays match.
The Vodafone Warriors go into the contest in ninth spot on the ladder with the same points total (22) as eighth-placed Newcastle. The Sharks are just two points ahead in sixth, one of three teams on 24.
While we had a setback a week ago losing Glen (Fisiiahi) for the season, to come out of the Melbourne match with not only two points but also no injuries is a really big positive at this stage of the campaign, said Elliott.
Weve also got two of our injured players in Russell (Packer) and Charlie (Gubb) set to come back from injury and Sam (Lousi) shouldnt be too far away either.
When the Vodafone Warriors met Cronulla in the third round they were on the end of a 4-28 loss at Sharks Stadium, a match in which Laumape made his debut.
We go from a really tough opponent in Melbourne to another one the Sharks, said Elliott.
We savoured the success against the Storm and regaining the Michael Moore Trophy. It was a significant day for the players and the club.
I know the players were so appreciative of the fantastic turnout of members and fans last Sunday. The atmosphere was outstanding and we really hope those who came along will be there to support us again for a huge day this weekend.
It has become a huge occasion, a four-game seven-and-a-half-hour long Super Saturday festival of football with four games being played in the precinct.
It starts at 11.00am with the Auckland Vulcans meeting Wentworthville in their New South Wales Cup encounter on Mount Smart Stadium No 2 before the focus switches to the main arena when the Vodafone Junior Warriors face Cronulla in the NYC fixture (12.45pm kick-off). Next up is the College Rugby League Warriors Cup grand final at 2.45pm; the combatants will be found after tomorrows semi-finals pitting Kelston Boys High School against Otahuhu College and Mount Albert Grammar School against St Pauls College.
The feature attraction between the Vodafone Warriors and Cronulla kicks off at 5.00pm.
Cronulla rebounded from 0-40 loss to the Sydney Roosters by thumping top eight hopefuls the Penrith Panthers 38-10. Over the past 10 weeks the Vodafone Warriors have collected 18 of a possible 20 points, winning seven of their last eight games and picking up four points from their two byes.
CLICK HERE AND SAVE BY PRE-PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets also available from Mad Butcher stores at Albany, Glen Innes, Mangere East, Manukau and Takanini
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.00pm, Sunday, July 28
Referees: Matt Cecchin and Gavin Reynolds
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
2NGANI LAUMAPE
3DANE NIELSEN
4KONRAD HURRELL
5MANU VATUVEI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
8SAM RAPIRA
9NATHAN FRIEND
10BEN MATULINO
11FELETI MATEO
12SIMON MANNERING (c)
13ELIJAH TAYLOR
Interchange:
14SUAIA MATAGI
15JACOB LILLYMAN
16TODD LOWRIE
17DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
The Vodafone Warriors came through injury-free from Sundays impressive 30-22 win over 2012 NRL premiers the Melbourne Storm enabling Elliott to stick with the combination he selected last week.
Named again on the right wing is 20-year-old Ngani Laumape who doubled his career try tally with a brace inside the first 12 minutes of last Sundays match.
The Vodafone Warriors go into the contest in ninth spot on the ladder with the same points total (22) as eighth-placed Newcastle. The Sharks are just two points ahead in sixth, one of three teams on 24.
While we had a setback a week ago losing Glen (Fisiiahi) for the season, to come out of the Melbourne match with not only two points but also no injuries is a really big positive at this stage of the campaign, said Elliott.
Weve also got two of our injured players in Russell (Packer) and Charlie (Gubb) set to come back from injury and Sam (Lousi) shouldnt be too far away either.
When the Vodafone Warriors met Cronulla in the third round they were on the end of a 4-28 loss at Sharks Stadium, a match in which Laumape made his debut.
We go from a really tough opponent in Melbourne to another one the Sharks, said Elliott.
We savoured the success against the Storm and regaining the Michael Moore Trophy. It was a significant day for the players and the club.
I know the players were so appreciative of the fantastic turnout of members and fans last Sunday. The atmosphere was outstanding and we really hope those who came along will be there to support us again for a huge day this weekend.
It has become a huge occasion, a four-game seven-and-a-half-hour long Super Saturday festival of football with four games being played in the precinct.
It starts at 11.00am with the Auckland Vulcans meeting Wentworthville in their New South Wales Cup encounter on Mount Smart Stadium No 2 before the focus switches to the main arena when the Vodafone Junior Warriors face Cronulla in the NYC fixture (12.45pm kick-off). Next up is the College Rugby League Warriors Cup grand final at 2.45pm; the combatants will be found after tomorrows semi-finals pitting Kelston Boys High School against Otahuhu College and Mount Albert Grammar School against St Pauls College.
The feature attraction between the Vodafone Warriors and Cronulla kicks off at 5.00pm.
Cronulla rebounded from 0-40 loss to the Sydney Roosters by thumping top eight hopefuls the Penrith Panthers 38-10. Over the past 10 weeks the Vodafone Warriors have collected 18 of a possible 20 points, winning seven of their last eight games and picking up four points from their two byes.
CLICK HERE AND SAVE BY PRE-PURCHASING TICKETS
Tickets also available from Mad Butcher stores at Albany, Glen Innes, Mangere East, Manukau and Takanini
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.00pm, Sunday, July 28
Referees: Matt Cecchin and Gavin Reynolds
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
2NGANI LAUMAPE
3DANE NIELSEN
4KONRAD HURRELL
5MANU VATUVEI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
8SAM RAPIRA
9NATHAN FRIEND
10BEN MATULINO
11FELETI MATEO
12SIMON MANNERING (c)
13ELIJAH TAYLOR
Interchange:
14SUAIA MATAGI
15JACOB LILLYMAN
16TODD LOWRIE
17DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
