Halfback Mason Lino makes his first New South Wales Cup appearance of the season in the Vodafone Warriors’ ninth-round encounter with Manly at Henson Park on Saturday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
Lino defied a shoulder injury to help the Vodafone Junior Warriors to their NYC grand final win last October before having offseason surgery.
He began his comeback with the Marist Saints in Auckland’s Fox Memorial competition and has now been named for his fourth NSW Cup outing for the club (he appeared three times for the side last year).
Lino, who finished his NYC career last year with 503 points in 62 games, joins Api Pewhairangi in the halves on Saturday with Sam Cook switched from halfback to fullback.
In other changes Marata Niukore follows up his appearance for the Junior Kiwis last Saturday with a starting role in the centres alongside David Fusitu’a. They replace Konrad Hurrell and Dominique Peyroux, both promoted to the NRL side after impressing in last week’s Pacific Test in Robina; Fusitu’a has recovered from the neck injury which forced him off the field in the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL loss to Gold Coast on Anzac Day.
Of the rest of the side that beat Newtown 44-18 on Anzac Day, Glen Fisiiahi (knee) is out, Paul Ulberg returns to the NYC and Albert Vete is on the NRL team’s interchange.
MANLY SEA EAGLES v VODAFONE WARRIORS
Henson Park, Sydney
1.00pm, Saturday, May 09
Referee: Drew Oultram
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 SAM COOK
2 KEN MAUMALO
3 MARATA NIUKORE
4 DAVID FUSITU’A
5 JARROD TUA
6 API PEWHAIRANGI
7 MASON LINO
8 SUAIA MATAGI
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 CHARLIE GUBB
11 SIONE LOUSI
12 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
13 SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
Interchange:
14 DAVID BHANA
15 JOHN PALAVI (c)
16 NATHANIEL PETERU
17 JAMES BELL
20 UPU POCHING
COACH: STACEY JONES
