Prop James Gavet is out of the Vodafone Warriors’ line-up for their fourth-round NRL encounter with the Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium tomorrow (5.30pm kick-off local time; 7.30pm NZT).
The Vodafone Warriors will now be without two of the front rowers they’ve used in the first three rounds this season. Also unavailable is Sam Lisone, who’s serving a one-game suspension.
Clubs must drop off two players from their initial 21-man squads 24 hours before kick-off. The other player omitted is wing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
In putting together a 3-0 start to the season for the first time in the club’s history, the Vodafone Warriors share the distinction with leader St George Illawarra of being the only two unbeaten sides after the first three rounds.
After being stunned 10-8 by Wests Tigers in the opening round, the Roosters rebounded with convincing wins over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (30-12) and Newcastle (38-8) to surge to third on the ladder just behind the Vodafone Warriors.
In 38 encounters with the Roosters since 1995, the Vodafone Warriors have a 21-16 winning advantage with one draw.
The Vodafone Warriors have won the last three clashes – 14-13 at Mount Smart Stadium last year, 12-10 at home in 2016 and 32-28 in extra time in Gosford earlier in 2016.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
5.30pm, Saturday, March 31, 2018
Referees: Henry Perenara and Ashley Klein
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 DAVID FUSITU’A
3 PETA HIKU
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 BLAKE GREEN
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
TBC
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 AGNATIUS PAASI
11 LEIVAHA PULU
12 TOHU HARRIS
13 ADAM BLAIR
Interchange:
14 JAZZ TEVAGA
15 LIGI SAO
16 CHRIS SATAE
17 BUNTY AFOA
18 MASON LINO
20 ANTHONY GELLING
21 ALBERT VETE
HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY
