A number of changes have been made to the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ line-up for tonight’s second-round NYC encounter with the Raiders at GIO Stadium in Canberra (4.15pm kick-off local time; 6.15pm NZT).
Captain Nathaniel Roache has been switched from hooker to start in the centres while Sheldon Pitama, who appeared for Melbourne in the NYC last year, will make his first appearance for the club in the dummy half role.
With Roache coming into the centres, Marata Niukore moves to the second row and Ofahiki Ogden goes to the bench.
Ruled out of today’s contest is the side’s most experienced played Toafofoa Sipley resulting on Amoni Tufui making his NYC debut as a starting front rower and Roman Tuhimata coming onto the bench for his first appearance in the competition.
While the Vodafone Junior Warriors started their title defence with a 16-41 loss to Newcastle, the Raiders edged out Cronulla 34-32.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
GIO Stadium, Canberra
4.15pm, Sunday, March 15
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 TOMAS AOAKE
9 NATHANIEL ROACHE (c)
4 SEMISI TYRELL
5 PAUL ULBERG
6 ATA HINGANO
7 ERIN CLARK
8 BUNTY AFOA
14 SHELDON PITAMA
15 AMONI TUFUI
3 MARATA NIUKORE
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Interchange:
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
16 WESLEY TAUTI
17 ISAIAH COOPER-TETEVANO
20 ROMAN TUHIMATA
COACH: KELVIN WRIGHT
