Vodafone Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden has today confirmed Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, Albert Vete, Sam Lisone and Konrad Hurrell will be unavailable for selection to face St George Illawarra in Sunday’s ninth-round NRL clash at Mount Smart Stadium (2.00pm kick-off).
McFadden said the six players would play for the Intrust Super Premiership team for failing to meet team standards in the wake of the Vodafone Warriors’ 0-42 loss to Melbourne at AAMI Park on Anzac Day.
“We’ve dealt with this internally after questioning the players involved and won’t be going into any details,” he said.
The changes have opened the way for 21-year-old prop Toafofoa Sipley to make his NRL debut against the Dragons while Sione Lousi, John Palavi and Matt Allwood have earned NRL recalls. All four players have impressed in the ISP side’s last two winning displays against North Sydney and Newcastle.
McFadden said he wouldn’t confirm his starting line-up and interchange until an hour before the match.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.00pm, Sunday, May 1
Referees: Gavin Badger and Chris Butler
VODAFONE WARRIORS
MATT ALLWOOD
BLAKE AYSHFORD
DAVID FUSITU’A
JAMES GAVET
CHARLIE GUBB
RYAN HOFFMAN (c)
SHAUN JOHNSON
SOLOMONE KATA
SHAUN LANE
THOMAS LEULUAI
JACOB LILLYMAN
SIONE LOUSI
ISSAC LUKE
JOHN PALAVI
TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
JAZZ TEVAGA
JONATHAN WRIGHT
HEAD COACH | ANDREW McFADDEN
BUY TICKETS NOW | VODAFONE WARRIORS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
