Veteran prop Sam Rapira makes another return from injury via the New South Wales Cup when the Vodafone Warriors face the Wentworthville Magpies in tomorrow’s 10th-round encounter at Pirtek Stadium tomorrow (12.40pm kick-off local time; 2.40pm NZT).
Rapira played three times in the NSW Cup in April in his comeback from a nagging hamstring injury before forcing his way back into the NRL side for the first time in his 10th and final NRL season when the Vodafone Warriors faced Gold Coast on Anzac Day.
He was impressive off the bench in his 170th appearance for the club only for the hamstring injury to strike again ruling him out of last Saturday night’s encounter against Cronulla.
Earlier this week he was named on the bench for tomorrow’s battle against Wentworthville but may find he’s in the starting line-up after all. That comes about after confirmation today that Suaia Matagi, originally named in the front row tomorrow, has been released from the last six months of his contract with the club.
The Vodafone Warriors are third on the ladder – six wins and three losses – after impressing in their 36-22 victory over Manly last weekend while Wentworthville is second to last with just two wins so far.
When the two teams met at Mount Smart Stadium in March, the Vodafone Warriors dominated in a 44-20 win. They’re unbeaten at home but last week’s win was only their second away.
Wentworthville will be strengthened tomorrow with the experienced Chris Sandow at halfback.
HIGHLIGHTS | MANLY v VODAFONE WARRIORS
WENTWORTHVILLE MAGPIES v VODAFONE WARRIORS
Pirtek Stadium, Parramatta
12.40pm, Saturday, May 16
Referee: Damian Briscoe
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 NATHANIEL PETERU
11 SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
12 JOHN PALAVI (c)
13 CHARLIE GUBB
Interchange:
14 DAVID BHANA
15 UPU POCHING
16 SAM RAPIRA
17 JAMES BELL
COACH: STACEY JONES
