Matt Allwood and Dominique Peyroux return from NRL duty and Viliami Kaveninga and Jarrod Tua are back from injury for the Vodafone Warriors’ fifth-round New South Wales Cup clash against the Wyong Roos at Morry Breen Oval on Sunday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
Allwood and Peyroux team up in the centres again, Allwood back in the side after scoring in his first NRL outing for the club against Brisbane last weekend while Peyroux was 18th man.
Kaveinga is set for a return after hamstring trouble while Tua comes back after missing last week’s win over North Sydney with a foot complaint.
Ngani Laumape, who has his first run of the season in the centres last week, has been moved straight back into the NRL side while forwards Sebastine Ikahihifo and Sione Lousi have also been called into the NRL squad for Monday’s clash against Melbourne.
With Ikahihifo and Lousi out, Nathaniel Peteru and Charlie Gubb have been named in the starting forward pack. Peteru was outstanding against the Bears making 180 metres from 17 runs as well as 27 tackles without a miss while Gubb, in his second outing back from injury, made 87 metres from eight runs and added 16 tackles.
Coming onto the bench are props Upu Poching and Herman Retzlaff while also out of the side with a long-term knee injury is veteran centre George Carmont, who had been so impressive in his comeback from retirement.
The Stacey Jones-coached side will be seeking its fourth win in five starts after a scratchy 18-16 comeback win over North Sydney lifted it to second on the ladder.
Standoff Api Pewhairangi needs two points to reach 50 for the season after scoring five tries and kicking 14 goals in the first four rounds.
The Wyong Roos are close behind the Vodafone Warriors on the ladder, sitting in fourth place with two wins and two losses so far. Their line-up for Sunday's clash includes former Vodafone Warrior Abraham Papalii, who played for the club's NYC and New South Wales Cup sides before signing with the Sydney Roosters.
WYONG ROOS v VODAFONE WARRIORS
Morry Breen Oval, Central Coast
3.00pm, Sunday, April 05
Referee: Daniel Olford
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
2 SAULA SOLOMONA
3 MATT ALLWOOD
4 DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
5 JARROD TUA
6 API PEWHAIRANGI
7 SAM COOK
8 SUAIA MATAGI
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 NATHANIEL PETERU
11 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12 JOHN PALAVI (c)
13 CHARLIE GUBB
Interchange:
14 DAVID BHANA
15 UPU POCHING
16 HERMAN RETZLAFF
17 JAMES BELL
18 SIMON LUAFALEALO
COACH: STACEY JONES
