Ken Maumalo to reach 100-game milestone as Warriors rings changes

Maumalo joins Vodafone Warriors' 100-game club

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 6 Apr 2021, 03:15 PM

Left winger Ken Maumalo makes his delayed 100th career appearance in a much-changed line-up for the Vodafone Warriors’ fifth-round NRL encounter with Manly Warringah at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Friday night (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

The 26-year-old Kiwi international becomes the 25th player and the fourth winger to join the club’s 100-game honours board after his wing partner David Fusitu’a brought up the achievement last season.

Manu Vatuvei (226) and Francis Meli (110) are the only other two wings on the list.

A Papatoetoe Panthers junior, Maumalo most likely would have reached the mark last year but was limited to just eight appearances after returning home early to reunite with his family during the Covid-19-affected campaign.

Debuting against Parramatta in round 10 in 2015, he made only 18 appearances in his first two seasons but played 69 of a possible 73 games in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

While Maumalo is named in a backline unchanged after Sunday’s 12-32 loss to the Sydney Roosters, there has been a lot of movement in the selection of the forwards.

Round 5 - Round 5 - Friday 9 Apr

Full Time

Warriors

Sea Eagles

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Fullback for Sea Eagles is number 1 Dylan Walker
Winger for Warriors is number 2 David Fusitu'a

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 2 Jason Saab
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 3 Brad Parker
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Marcelo Montoya

Centre for Sea Eagles is number 4 Morgan Harper
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Ken Maumalo

Winger for Sea Eagles is number 5 Reuben Garrick
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Sea Eagles is number 6 Kieran Foran
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Sean O'Sullivan

Halfback for Sea Eagles is number 7 Daly Cherry-Evans

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Leeson Ah Mau

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 8 Taniela Paseka
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Sea Eagles is number 9 Lachlan Croker
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Tohu Harris

Prop for Sea Eagles is number 17 Josh Aloiai
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 11 Jack Gosiewski
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Jack Murchie

2nd Row for Sea Eagles is number 12 Josh Schuster
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Jazz Tevaga

Lock for Sea Eagles is number 13 Jake Trbojevic

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Ben Murdoch-Masila

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 10 Martin Taupau
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Tom Ale

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 15 Toafofoa Sipley
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Kane Evans

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 16 Sean Keppie
Interchange for Warriors is number 20 Paul Turner

Interchange for Sea Eagles is number 18 Tevita Funa

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 17 Josh Curran

Reserve for Sea Eagles is number 19 Zac Saddler

Match Officials

Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judge: Belinda Sharpe
Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
Senior Review Official: Matt Noyen

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:07 AM

With props Addin Fonua-Blake (knee) and Bunty Afoa (suspended) plus second rower Bayley Sironen (shoulder) sidelined, Vodafone Warriors head coach Nathan Brown has been forced to reshape his starting pack and bench.

Also out of contention are prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (last game of a three-match suspension), Euan Aitken (knee), Chanel Harris-Tavita (foot) and Peta Hiku (knee).

Brown has moved Tohu Harris out of the back row to start at prop along with Leeson Ah Mau while Jack Murchie replaces Sironen in the second row and Jazz Tevaga is named at loose forward (where he has started the last two weeks despite being originally named on the bench).

Called in to make his club debut from the bench is new signing Kane Evans - who will become Vodafone Warrior #257 - while Brown has brought in back rower Josh Curran and 2020 rookie middle forward Tom Ale to complete the interchange alongside Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Added to the extended bench are prop Jackson Frei and young hooker Taniela Otukolo.

The Vodafone Warriors face a Manly side coming off four losses from four starts this season, the most recent a 6-46 defeat by Penrith last Thursday.

They will have the benefit of a long turnaround while the Vodafone Warriors are back after a five-day break since their last match.