NYC PREVIEW | ONE LATE CHANGE
Auckland, New Zealand, March 09, 2014 – Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones has made one late change to his starting line-up for today’s first-round NYC clash against the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium today (6.15pm kick-off).
James Bell, originally named to start at loose forward, goes to the bench with Kouma Samson coming into the starting line-up.
PARRAMATTA EELS v VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
4.15pm, Sunday, March 09
Referee: Lawrence McDonnell
FIVE KEY FEATURES
#1 STACEY JONES: As the Vodafone Warriors mark the start of their 20th season today there’s a special connection between the past and the present. As a foundation player Stacey Jones made his first-grade debut against the Eels at Parramatta Stadium in 1995 and today he has his first outing as the club’s NYC coach.
#2 MASON LINO: Having his third season in the NYC, Lino is something of the elder statesman in the grade. His steadiness in directing the team is an asset. He’ll takes charge of an inexperienced line-up today. He needs only nine points to bring up 300 in the grade.
#3 BRAD ABBEY: Highly promising fullback out of New Zealand’s most prolific rugby league nursery, St Paul’s College. He has excelled at secondary schools level and is seen by the Vodafone Warriors as one of the club’s brightest prospects.
#4 NATHANIEL ROACHE: Like Abbey, Roache comes into the NYC after starring at secondary schools level for Mount Albert Grammar School. Coached by Vodafone Warriors great Steve Price at Mount Albert Grammar last year, he teams up with the experienced Lino in the halves.
#5 JORDAN BALDWINSON AND MASON TONKS: The 19-year-olds out of the Leeds Rhinos make their NYC debuts today. Both tall and rangy. Baldwinson, who had a taste of Super League with Leeds last year, starts in the front row while Tonks is on the bench.
TEAMS
PARRAMATTA EELS
1 NATHAN DAVIS
2 FABIAN GOODALL
3 JOHN FOLAU
4 ERICK AUKAFOLAU
5 HALAUAFU LAVAKA
6 RYAN MATTERSON
7 ZACH DOCKAR-CLAY
8 TEPAI TEPU-SMITH
9 JOEY LUSSICK
10 FRED JUNIOR MAUALA
11 TEPAI MOEROA
12 PAULI PAULI
13 JOSH ALOIAI
Interchange:
14 ERIC NEWBIGGING
15 BRANDON RAELI
16 JORDAN MUNA
17 JEFF MARKUS
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 GEORGE EDWARDS
3 LAFU FEAGAIGA
4 KEN MAUMALO
5 BRAXTON STANLEY
6 NATHANIEL ROACHE
7 MASON LINO (c)
8 JORDAN BALDWINSON
9 KURT ROBINSON
10 JAMES TAYLOR
11 MICHAEL KI
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
14 KOUMA SAMSON
Interchange:
13 JAMES BELL
15 SEMISI TYRELL
16 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
17 MASON TONKS
