Gerard Beale again replaces David Fusitu’a on the right wing and Chris Satae comes onto the bench for his first appearance of the season in the Vodafone Warriors’ eighth-round NRL clash against Newcastle at Mount Smart Stadium today (4.05pm kick-off).
Satae replaces Bunty Afoa while utility Hayze Perham is again on the bench after making his debut against Melbourne on Anzac Day.
Apart from Beale coming into the side, the starting line-up is the same as named on Tuesday with veteran Blake Green confirmed at halfback after missing the last three games.
The Vodafone Warriors and Newcastle are both on four points after seven rounds.
In 39 matches between the two clubs, the Vodafone Warriors have won 20, the Knights 18 with one draw. The Vodafone Warriors have won the last six contests at Mount Smart Stadium since losing 19-24 to the Knights in 2012.
The NRL fixture rounds out a packed game day programme which has featured Vodafone Warriors teams lining up against the Sydney Roosters in the opening round of the inaugural NRL Touch Premiership as well as in the Jersey Flegg Cup and the Canterbury Cup.
The touch teams marked their debuts by winning both contests, the women prevailing 10-5 and the men 8-7.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
4.05pm, Sunday, May 5, 2019
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
17 GERARD BEALE
3 PETA HIKU
4 PATRICK HERBERT
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
7 BLAKE GREEN
8 AGNATIUS PAASI
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 LEESON AH MAU
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
12 TOHU HARRIS
13 LACHLAN BURR
Interchange:
14 NATHANIEL ROACHE
15 ADAM BLAIR
18 HAYZE PERHAM
23 CHRIS SATAE
HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY
