ISP and NYC line-ups for 16th round

Author: Richard Becht , Image: www.photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 21 Jun 2016, 04:34 PM

Injuries and NRL requirements have again impacted on the Vodafone Warriors’ Intrust Super Premiership side for Saturday’s 16th-round encounter with the North Sydney Bears at Mount Smart Stadium #2 (1.00pm kick-off).

Coach Stacey Jones has lost regular fullback Henare Wells, sidelined for two-four weeks with a shoulder injury while forward Ligi Sao is out for the same length of time with a patella injury.

As well as that standoff Ata Hingano and prop Toafofoa Sipley are on an extended bench for the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL side to face Cronulla.

While they’re absent the experienced centre Jonathan Wright is named after being on standby for the NRL team last weekend and captain John Palavi returns from injury.

They bolster a side which fell to a disappointing 6-38 loss to Newtown last Saturday, ending a run of seven straight wins. It will also be a welcome return home after back-to-back away games.

With Palavi back, Marata Niukore returns to the Vodafone Junior Warriors who put together their best effort of the season beating the Sydney Roosters 40-20 last Sunday.

Eiden Ackland, a late replacement, produced a stunning hat-trick against the Roosters in just his third NYC outing. He again partners Chanel Harris-Tavita in a young but exciting halves pairing.

After toppling the higher-ranked Roosters last week, the Vodafone Junior Warriors are in for another challenge taking on a Cronulla side running fifth on the NYC table.

VODAFONE WARRIORS v NORTH SYDNEY

Mount Smart Stadium #2, Auckland

1.00pm, Saturday, June 25

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 TOMAS AOAKE

2 VILIAMI KAVEINGA

3 MATTHEW ALLWOOD

4 JONATHAN WRIGHT

5 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD

6 MASON LINO

7 JEFF ROBSON

8 JAMES GAVET