The Vodafone Warriors have reshuffled their line-up substantially following yesterday’s confirmation that Manu Vatuvei and Issac Luke had been cleared to line up against Newcastle in today’s fourth-round NRL clash at Mount Smart Stadium (4.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: SKYCITY).
With Vatuvei starting on the left wing, originally-selected Jonathan Wright becomes 18th man while Luke’s return at hooker results in last week’s debutant Jazz Tevaga going to the bench.
Bodene Thompson’s absence with a rib injury sees Simon Mannering moving from loose forward to the second row and Albert Vete will start in the middle instead of Mannering.
Apart from Tevaga, the rest of the bench is as selected with props Charlie Gubb and Sam Lisone joined by centre Konrad Hurrell.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
4.00pm, Monday, March 28
Referees: Adam Devcich and Chris James
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK
2 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
3 BLAKE AYSHFORD
4 SOLOMONE KATA
21 MANU VATUVEI
6 SHAUN JOHNSON
7 JEFF ROBSON
8 JACOB LILLYMAN
20 ISSAC LUKE
10 BEN MATULINO
13 SIMON MANNERING
12 RYAN HOFFMAN (c)
17 ALBERT VETE
Interchange:
9 JAZZ TEVAGA
14 CHARLIE GUBB
15 SAM LISONE
16 KONRAD HURRELL
HEAD COACH | ANDREW McFADDEN
