New signing Zac Santo will debut for the Vodafone Warriors in Saturday’s 13th-round Intrust Super Premiership match against Newcastle at Cessnock Sports Ground (4.45pm kick-off local time; 6.45pm NZT).
The 24-year-old Townsville-born ex-North Queensland and Canberra utility arrived at Mount Smart Stadium today after his contract was officially registered yesterday.
He comes straight into fullback for the Vodafone Warriors’ road trip to the Hunter region as the Ricky Henry-coached side seeks a third straight win after beating Wentworthville 20-18 and North Sydney 18-10 in the last two rounds.
Also rejoining the side is wing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad on the back of an impressive run of four appearances for the NRL team after debuting against the Sydney Roosters on April 30.
Toafofoa Sipley is named to start in the front row alongside Ligi Sao with Sam Cook, who started at fullback on Saturday, back at hooker again.
Sipley was outstanding in his 49 minutes on the field against the Bears, producing eight searching carries for 93 metres, a bulldozing try, when he carried defenders with him, and a team-high 34 tackles without a miss.
In a solid, grinding performance, 18-year-old NRL rookie Isaiah Papali’i was another standout, playing the full 80 minutes, making 120 metres and 26 tackles.
Competition leader Wyong (21) and the Vodafone Warriors (20) – both with just one loss each – have a break on the rest of the field with the Mounties third on 15.
While the ISP side will chase its 10th win of the season, the Vodafone Warriors’ NYC team will be after a repeat win following its breakthrough success against Brisbane. After 11 straight losses, the juniors were outstanding in dismissing the Broncos 36-20.
They benefited from a sound completion rate (79 per cent) and plenty of willing workers with centre Melino Fineanganofo and wing Gibson Popoalii both gaining more than 160 metres, Chris Sio 175 metres (and 34 tackles) and Eiden Ackland 43 tackles. There was quality all-round from standoff Chanel Harris-Tavita with two tries - the first a wonderful effort - and six goals from six attempts for 20 points plus 11 metres and three line breaks.
Parramatta presents a tough assignment, running sixth in the competition.
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE
Cessnock Sports Ground, Cessnock
4.45pm, Saturday, June 3
VODAFONE WARRIORS
2 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD
3 JUNIOR PAUGA
4 SEMISI FOTU
22 PAULOS LATU
6 MAFOA’AEATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO (c)
8 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
9 SAM COOK
10 LIGI SAO
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
13 JAMES BELL
Interchange:
14 JAZZ TEVAGA
15 PATRICK SIPLEY
16 CHARLIE GUBB
17 CHRIS SATAE
COACH | RICKY HENRY
NYC
VODAFONE WARRIORS v PARRAMATTA
ANZ Stadium, Sydney
5.35pm, Friday, June 2
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 LEE TURNER
2 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
3 MELINO FINEANGANOFO
4 KANE TELEA
5 GIBSON POPOALII
6 PAUL TURNER
7 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
8 KENESE KENESE (c)
9 EIDEN ACKLAND
10 TAYHLER PAORA
11 TYLER SLADE
12 JOE VUNA
13 CHRIS SIO (c)
Interchange:
14 DEAN KOUKA-SMITH
15 KELEPI LUI
16 JAVVIER PITOVAO
17 ISRAEL OGDEN
18 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
20 KEANU LAUMATIA-PAKI
21 TROY PULUPAKI
22 NATHAN NEWTON
23 JORDAN PINNOCK
24 PRESTON RIKI
COACH | GRANT POCKLINGTON
