You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
NZ Warrior James Gavet gets lifted in the tackle during a pre season NRL match. NZ Warriors v Gold Coast Titans, Toll Stadium, Whangarei, New Zealand. Saturday 13 February 2016. Copyright Photo: Heath Johnson / www.Photosport.nz

James Gavet has been called into the starting line-up for his first NRL appearance for the Vodafone Warriors against former club Wests Tigers in today’s first-round NYC clash at Campbelltown Sports Stadium (5.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).

The 26-year-old was selected on the bench for his 15th career match but will now run on alongside veteran front rower Jacob Lillyman with the seasoned Ben Matulino to be used from the bench.

Gavet, a Kelston Boys’ High School old boy, becomes Vodafone Warrior #208 having previously appeared at NRL level for Canterbury-Bankstown, Wests Tigers and Brisbane. He played for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in the NYC in 2009 followed by two seasons with the club’s NRL squad when he appeared only at New South Wales Cup level for the then-Auckland Vulcans (including the 28-30 grand final loss to the Bulldogs in 2011).

The switch means five of the six newcomers selected will be starting with Gavet joined by fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, centre Blake Ayshford, halfback Jeff Robson and hooker Issac Luke. Nathaniel Roache makes his NRL debut from the bench.

Mount Albert Grammar School-educated Roache (19), who was in the club’s NYC premiership-winning side in 2014, has made 38 appearances for the Vodafone Junior Warriors over the last two seasons and also played for the New South Wales Cup side last year. He was outstanding at last month’s Downer NRL Auckland Nines, scoring three tries to help the club to the final for the first time.

Ayshford will line up not only against some familiar faces but also in familiar territory as he takes on the club he played 104 times for from 2009-2014; as well as Gavet, Thompson also has strong Tigers links. He and Gavet were with the club in 2013 and 2014.

Tuivasa-Sheck becomes Vodafone Warrior #203, Ayshford #204, Robson #205, Luke #206, Roache #207 and Gavet #208.

Dropping off the extended bench are Jonathan Wright and Albert Vete.

 

VODAFONE WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS

Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Sydney

5.30pm, Saturday, March 05

Referees: Ashley Klein and Chris Sutton

 

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK

2 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA

3 BLAKE AYSHFORD

4 SOLOMONE KATA

5 MANU VATUVEI

6 SHAUN JOHNSON

7 JEFF ROBSON

8 JACOB LILLYMAN

9 ISSAC LUKE

16 JAMES GAVET

11 BEN HENRY

12 RYAN HOFFMAN (c)

13 SIMON MANNERING

Interchange:

10 BEN MATULINO

14 NATHANIEL ROACHE

15 SAM LISONE

17 BODENE THOMPSON

HEAD COACH | ANDREW McFADDEN

Acknowledgement of Country

The New Zealand Warriors honour the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae and their mana motuhake.

Principal Partner

Major Partners

Official Sponsors

View All Partners