Chanel Harris-Tavita at halfback for Vodafone Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 4 Aug 2020, 04:02 PM

For the third week running, the Vodafone Warriors are lining up as selected for tonight's 13th-round NRL clash against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Lottoland in Sydney (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

Interim head coach Todd Payten has omitted Isaiah Papali'i (#18) and Adam Keighran (#20) from his remaining 19 players an hour before kick-off.

Last night Jack Murchie (#21) and Gerard Beale in (#22) were dropped off the extended bench.

Chanel Harris-Tavita has returned to the halves for the contest, the Vodafone Warriors' first outing at Brookvale Oval since 2011.

The club’s 2019 NRL rookie of the year is a straight swap for veteran halfback Blake Green, who requested and was granted an immediate release from the rest of his contract on Tuesday to join the Newcastle Knights.

Injury ruled the 21-year-old Harris-Tavita out of contention for last Friday night’s superb 26-20 win over the Wests Tigers after picking up a wrist injury in the 11th-round loss to the Sydney Roosters.

Round 13 - Round 13 - Friday 7 Aug

Full Time

Sea Eagles

Warriors

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Brendan Elliot

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jorge Taufua

Winger for Warriors is number 2 Patrick Herbert
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Tevita Funa

Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey
Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Moses Suli

Centre for Warriors is number 4 Peta Hiku
Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick

Winger for Warriors is number 5 George Jennings
Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Cade Cust

Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima
Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Forwards

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown
Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Danny Levi

Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Karl Lawton
Prop for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau

Prop for Warriors is number 10 Jack Hetherington
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 15 Corey Waddell

2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa
2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 18 Haumole Olakau'atu

2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Tohu Harris
Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 14 Lachlan Croker

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Wayde Egan
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie

Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Adam Blair
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 17 Taniela Paseka

Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Daniel Alvaro
Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 20 Morgan Boyle

Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Lachlan Burr

Match Officials

Referee: Henry Perenara
Touch Judge: Jon Stone
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Senior Review Official: Steve Chiddy

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:26 AM

He’ll be playing his 20th career match, his seventh game of the season after mixing three appearances at standoff and three from the interchange bench. It will be the first time he has been at halfback since being used in the #7 jersey with three different halves partners early last season when Green was injured; and it will be the first time he and Kodi Nikorima have been teamed up in the halves.

Harris-Tavita’s selection apart, the final 17-man line-up is unchanged from the one used against the Tigers. The starting pack remains intact for third week running.

Four of the starting forwards all topped 100 metres last week – Tohu Harris (181), Jazz Tevaga (168), Jack Hetherington (139) and Eliesa Katoa (131) – while Lachlan Burr was outstanding from the bench with 150 metres from 17 runs in his 44 minutes on the field.

Also retained is the bench of hooker Wayde Egan and middle forwards Adam Blair, Daniel Alvaro and Burr.

The Vodafone Warriors will again be seeking rare back-to-back victories after last winning two on end against St George Illawarra and Penrith in May last year.

Success against the Sea Eagles is rare with only 10 wins in 34 attempts since 1995. It’s even rarer in Australia where the Vodafone Warriors haven’t won since Stacey Jones’ comeback match in 2009 but have triumphed in two of the last three (at Mount Smart Stadium when they last met in 2019 and in Christchurch in 2018).