Most of the Vodafone Warriors’ experienced first graders will be onboard for the second and final NRL trial against the Gold Coast Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium in Kawana Waters on Saturday (5.00pm kick-off).
Combining for the first time in the halves will be Vodafone Warriors regular Shaun Johnson and new signing Blake Green while the seasoned Adam Blair and Tohu Harris will also be making their club debuts.
The club’s other established players coming into the side after missing the Melbourne trial in Rotorua are captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, back rower Simon Mannering, hooker Issac Luke and just re-signed prop Sam Lisone.
While Johnson has Green as his newest halves partner, Blair is named to start in the front row teamed up with James Gavet and Sam Cook is again at hooker as he was in the 20-14 win over the Storm last weekend.
Harris, a grand final winner with Melbourne last year, is paired in the second row with fellow new arrival Leivaha Pulu while Bunty Afoa is named at loose forward. Mannering, Lisone and Luke are all listed on a 10-man bench.
Fullback Tuivasa-Sheck apart, the other four outside backs named played in Rotorua – wings David Fusitu’a and Ken Maumalo plus centres Peta Hiku and Solomone Kata.
Seven of the 10 bench players were used against Melbourne – forwards Ligi Sao, Chris Satae and Joseph Vuna, utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, new centre Anthony Gelling, standoff Ata Hingano and 18-year-old Rotorua-raised Hayze Perham.
Perham impressed when he came on for the second half against Melbourne. He was heavily involved making 112 metres from 10 runs and making no errors.
The Titans, being guided by new coach Garth Brennan, fielded an under-strength side in a 10-38 loss to Brisbane in their preseason hit-out in Toowoomba last weekend.
The most notable players to line up were Kane Elgey and Dale Copley plus a number of Gold Coast’s new signings including former Penrith forwards Bryce Cartwright and Leilani Latu.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters
5.00pm, Saturday, February 24
VODAFONE WARRIORS
| 1 | ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c) |
| 2 | DAVID FUSITU’A |
| 18 | PETA HIKU |
| 4 | SOLOMONE KATA |
| 20 | KEN MAUMALO |
| 6 | BLAKE GREEN |
| 7 | SHAUN JOHNSON |
| 21 | ADAM BLAIR |
| 9 | SAM COOK |
| 10 | JAMES GAVET |
| 11 | TOHU HARRIS |
| 12 | LEIVAHA PULU |
| 13 | BUNTY AFOA |
| Interchange: | |
| 14 | LIGI SAO |
| 15 | CHRIS SATAE |
| 16 | SAM LISONE |
| 17 | CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD |
| 22 | SIMON MANNERING |
| 23 | JOSEPH VUNA |
| 25 | ANTHONY GELLING |
| 28 | HAYZE PERHAM |
| 30 | ATA HINGANO |
| 31 | ISSAC LUKE |
HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY
