Three changes have been made to the Vodafone Warriors’ starting pack for today’s 19th-round NRL clash against the Manly Sea Eagles at nib Stadium in Perth (3.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).
With James Gavet and Jazz Tevaga the confirmed replacements for the experienced pair Jacob Lillyman and Bodene Thompson, head coach Andrew McFadden has shuffled his playing resources.
Also without Albert Vete (hamstring), McFadden will use Gavet and Charlie Gubb as his starting front rowers ensuring the seasoned Ben Matulino can be injected for a long stint from the interchange.
Coming into the side to start on the right edge as Thompson’s replacement is rookie 19-year-old Bunty Afoa, who’ll be playing just his second NRL match.
He was used off the bench in his debut against Gold Coast and produced a player of the day performance last week when he played the full 80 minutes on the right edge for the club’s Intrust Super Premiership side in its 12-8 win over Illawarra.
Alongside Matulino on the bench are Tuimoala Lolohea, Sam Lisone and Tevaga.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
nib Stadium, Perth
3.30pm, Saturday, July 16
Referees: Gavin Badger and Chris James
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 DAVID FUSITU’A
2 KEN MAUMALO
3 BLAKE AYSHFORD
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 THOMAS LEULUAI
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
18 JAMES GAVET
9 ISSAC LUKE
17 CHARLIE GUB
16 BUNTY AFOA
12 RYAN HOFFMAN (c)
13 SIMON MANNERING
Interchange:
10 BEN MATULINO
14 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
15 SAM LISONE
21 JAZZ TEVAGA
HEAD COACH | ANDREW McFADDEN
