Halfback Mason Lino plus forwards Sione Lousi and Toafofoa Sipley all make their returns from long-term injuries for the Vodafone Warriors’ fifth-round Intrust Super Premiership clash against Wentworthville at Ringrose Park in Sydney on Sunday (1.00pm kick-off local time; 3.00pm NZT).
While their first outings for the year have led to a several changes to the Stacey Jones-coached side, the Vodafone Junior Warriors are set to field a relatively settled line-up for their encounter with the Roosters at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Sunday (9.40am kick-off local time; 11.40am NZT).
To the ISP team first where Lino (knee), Sipley (knee) and Lousi (wrist) all come into the side after recovering from surgery. Lino will be reunited with halves partner Ata Hingano while Sipley and Lousi are on the bench alongside utility Viliami Kaveinga – who also comes back into the side – prop Upu Poching and back rower James Bell.
Marata Niukore returns to the starting line-up replacing Ali Lauitiiti in the second row with Lauitiiti slotting into prop. Starting at hooker is Erin Clark after making way for Lino’s return in the halves. There’s one change in the outside backs with the experienced Jonathan Wright – 18th man for the NRL side yesterday – named in the centres.
The Vodafone Warriors will be seeking to rebound from a 20-36 loss to Wyong on Sunday while Wentworthville is coming off a loss to Newcastle.
Meanwhile, Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Kelvin Wright has made limited changes to the side which lost 12-26 to the Knights yesterday.
The backline remains the same while Joe Vuna is back at loose forward, Jerome Mamea moves to the bench and Henry Pei, who debuted yesterday, is omitted.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v WENTWORTHVILLE
Ringrose Park, Sydney
1.00pm, Sunday, April 3
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 HENARE WELLS
2 KEN MAUMALO
3 DAVID FUSITU’A
4 JONATHAN WRIGHT
5 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD
6 ATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO
8 JAMES GAVET
9 ERIN CLARK
10 ALI LAUITIITI
11 MARATA NIUKORE
12 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
13 JOHN PALAVI (c)
Interchange:
14 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
15 UPU POCHING
16 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
17 SIONE LOUSI
18 JAMES BELL
COACH | STACEY JONES
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
9.40am, Sunday, April 3
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 KANE TELEA
2 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
3 JUNIOR PAUGA
4 MELINO FINEANGANOFO
5 LEVI McBIRNEY
6 SHELDON PITAMA (c)
7 ZION IOKA
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 CHRIS SIO
10 KENESE KENESE
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 JOSEPH PRICE
13 JOSEPH VUNA
Interchange:
14 TUALIMA TUALIMA
15 JEROME MAMEA
16 KOLI ONEONE
17 KEANU DAWSON
COACH | KELVIN WRIGHT
