Standoff Ma’afoaeata Hingano will become one of the NYC’s youngest players when he makes his debut for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in their fifth-round encounter with the Cronulla Sharks at Remondis Stadium on Saturday (2.40pm kick-off local time; 4.40pm NZT).
He’s only just 17, having celebrated his birthday on March 11.
A Pakuranga College product and Papakura Jaguars junior, Hingano – usually called Ata – will team up with the experienced Mason Lino in the halves.
In another backline change, George Edwards will start in the centres while coach Stacey Jones has been forced to make some changes to the pack as well.
With regular front rower James Taylor injured, Kouma Samson moves from the back row to prop and former Leeds Rhinos junior comes into the second row.
Coming into the squad for the first time this season is prop Katamiro Atera. Named on the bench, he made five appearances last season.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v CRONULLA SHARKS
Remondis Stadium, Cronulla
10.40pm, Saturday, April 5
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 METIA LISATI
3 GEORGE EDWARDS
4 KEN MAUMALO
5 BRAXTON STANLEY
6 MA’AFOAEATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO (c)
8 IULIO AFOA
9 KURT ROBINSON
10 KOUMA SAMSON
11 MICHAEL KI
12 MASON TONKS
13 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
Interchange:
14 OFAHIKI OGDEN
15 JORDAN BALDWINSON
16 JAZZ TEVAGA
17 KATAMIRO ATERA
18 NATHANIEL ROACHE
COACH: STACEY JONES
