North Queensland will provide more top four opposition for the 2014 premiership-winning Vodafone Junior Warriors when they travel to Townsville for Saturday’s seventh-round contest at 1300SMILES Stadium (3.15pm kick-off local time, 5.15pm NZT).
Both teams boast four wins and two losses to sit on eight points – two behind leading sides Brisbane and Manly – with the Cowboys third on points for and against and the Vodafone Junior Warriors fourth.
They also both go into the match after winning their last outings, the Vodafone Junior Warriors impressive in beating Wests Tigers 38-4 while North Queensland beat South Sydney 38-24 on the same night the Cowboys dominated the defending premiers 30-12 in the NRL match.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors put on seven tries against the Tigers with left wing Tomas Aoake helping himself to a hat-trick to give him seven tries in six games this season.
He was one of nine players in the side who topped 100 metres with prop Toafofoa Sipley (152) and Ofahiki Ogden (151) – who spent time in the centres – leading the way.
The only negative in the performance was losing young forward Tamati Ioane-Niko, who faces several weeks sidelined with a broken leg.
While he is out, Marata Niukore returns in the centres after missing last Saturday’s match. That sees Nathaniel Roache starting at hooker and Sheldon Pitama returning to the bench.
Once again the Vodafone Junior Warriors have the same starting front rowers in Bunty Afoa and Sipley along with a settled back row combination of Ogden, Matiu Love-Henry and Jazz Tevaga.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
3.15pm, Saturday, April 18
Referee: Peter Gough
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 TOMAS AOAKE
3 SEMISI TYRELL
4 MARATA NIUKORE
5 PAUL ULBERG
6 ATA HINGANO
7 ERIN CLARK
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 NATHANIEL ROACHE
10 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY (c)
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Interchange:
14 SHELDON PITAMA
15 PAUL TULI
16 AMONI TUFUI
17 MATTAIS HEIMULI
18 KAURI AUPOURI
COACH: KELVIN WRIGHT
