Wellington-raised Kauri Aupouri will become the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 16th debutant this season when he lines up in the halves in tomorrow’s 21st-round NYC clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Mount Smart Stadium (2.40pm kick-off; match day sponsor: DEWALT).
The 20-year-old Te Aroha Eels junior comes into the side at standoff to team up in the halves with the established Erin Clark, who has played in all 18 matches in his rookie season.
Educated at Wainuiomata High School, Aupouri has represented both New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand Universities and was on Penrith’s books last year but returned home and earned a contract after playing in the Vodafone Warriors’ open NYC trial at Cornwall Park in October last year.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors, fifth on the ladder despite last week’s loss to Manly, will be desperate to snap an uncustomary run of form at home. Since the competition became in 2008, they have been a dominant force at Mount Smart Stadium but they have now gone five games without success on their own turf.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v CRONULLA SHARKS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
5.00pm, Saturday, August 01
Referees: Phil Henderson and Shane Rehm
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
3 MARATA NIUKORE
4 SEMISI TYRELL
5 PAUL ULBERG
6 KAURI AUPOURI
7 ERIN CLARK
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 CASEY LAFAELE
10 PAUL TULI
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Interchange:
14 CHRIS SIO
15 KOLI ONEONE
16 TUALIMA TUALIMA
17 AMONI TUFUI
18 WESLEY TAUTI
COACH: KELVIN WRIGHT
