Paul Turner leads nine Vodafone Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & Photosport.nz
Timestamp: Thu 19 Sep 2019, 11:10 AM

Vodafone Warriors players comprise almost half the under-19 Junior Kiwis squad to play the Australian Schoolboys in Brisbane on Sunday, September 29.

The club’s Sonny Fai Medal winner and Jersey Flegg Cup player of the year Paul Turner heads a nine-man cast which also includes well-established Vodafone Junior Warriors Kayal Iro and Tyler Slade.

Turner, who turned 19 in July, has been playing in the under-20 competition since 2017, amassing 40 appearances. He has also played a grade up in the club’s Canterbury Cup side.

Slade and Iro are three-season under-20 players as well, each making 39 appearances in the grade since 2017 as well as having experience at Canterbury Cup level.

The other six Vodafone Warriors players named are all in the early stages of their under-20 careers, winger Selestino Ravutaumada, Sione Moala and Isaiah Vagana all debuting this year while Temple Kalepo, Emanuel Tuimavave-Gerrard and Junior Pua became Jersey Flegg regulars this season after being introduced last year.

When the initial 25-man Junior Kiwis squad was announced it included Paramatta star Dylan Brown but, with Eels still alive in the NRL finals, he has been ruled out.

JUNIOR KIWIS v AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLBOYS

11.00am (1.00pm NZT), Sunday, September 29, 2019

Dolphin Stadium, Brisbane

JUNIOR KIWIS

Kayal Iro (Vodafone Warriors)

Temple Kalepo (Vodafone Warriors)

Asu Kepaoa (Sydney Roosters)

Spencer Leniu (Penrith Panthers)

Etu Vinny Lui (Parramatta Eels)

Christian Ma’anaima (Newcastle Knights)

Sione Moala (Vodafone Warriors)

Griffin Neame (North Queensland Cowboys)