The Vodafone Junior Warriors will take a much-changed line-up into their 10th-round NYC clash against the Parramatta Eels at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday (10.40am kick-off local time; 12.40 NZT).
The starting side named shows changes in the centres and the second row while only one of the interchange players remains from last Saturday’s devastating 22-23 loss to Cronulla.
Junior Pauga, who made his debut against the Sharks, is chosen to start in the centres while regular centre Semisi Tyrell is listed to start in the second row with Matiu Love-Henry moved to the bench.
Joining Love-Henry on the originally-selected bench are prop Paul Tuli and Marist hooker Chris Sio (in line for his debut) plus Tualima Tualima, the only survivor from the interchange used against the Sharks. Wing Lewis Soosemea has been named as 18th man.
While Love-Henry makes way for Tyrell, the rest of the pack has a settled looked with the side’s most experienced player and captain Toafofoa Sipley and Bunty Afoa in the front row with hooker Nathaniel Roache and Ofahiki Ogden and Jazz Tevaga completing the back row.
Ata Hingano and Erin Clark extend their partnership in the halves with their 10th consecutive outing while established wings Tomas Aoake – eight tries in 10 games – and Paul Ulberg and fullback Brad Abbey are again in the side.
Two of the side’s most impressive performances against the Sharks were provided by Tevaga and Sipley. Tevaga made 127 metres from 12 runs and came up with an astonishing 55 tackles while Sipley was outstanding playing 59 minutes, gaining 188 metres from 15 runs, making eight tackle breaks, two line breaks and producing four off loads as well as making 27 tackles. Ulberg (147 metres) and Aoake (146 metres) also featured strongly while Roache made 158 metres and 38 tackles.
Despite last week’s loss the Vodafone Junior Warriors go into this week’s round lying fourth on the ladder on 11 points. The Eels are in 13th place having lost four of their last five games, the last just 32-34 to Melbourne last weekend following a 28-50 loss to Brisbane the previous round.
PARRAMATTA EELS v VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
10.40am, Saturday, May 16
Referees: Jon Stone and Phil Henderson
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 TOMAS AOAKE
3 JUNIOR PAUGA
4 KOLI ONEONE
5 PAUL ULBERG
6 ATA HINGANO
7 ERIN CLARK
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 NATHANIEL ROACHE
10 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY (c)
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 SEMISI TYRELL
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Interchange:
14 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
15 TUALIMA TUALIMA
16 PAUL TULI
17 CHRIS SIO
18 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
COACH: KELVIN WRIGHT
