Injuries force more line-up changes for Vodafone Warriors

Injuries force line-up changes for Vodafone Warriors

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 18 May 2021, 03:05 PM

Injuries have again forced head coach Nathan Brown to reshuffle his line-up for the Vodafone Warriors' 11th-round NRL match against the Wests Tigers at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford on Friday night (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

Winger Rocco Berry (head) plus second rowers Josh Curran (elbow) and Bayley Sironen (knee) have all been ruled out this week but on the positive side of the ledger winger Marcelo Montoya returns from an injury break while Jack Murchie comes into the second row and Kane Evans is named at prop after being omitted against the Eels.

Berry and Curran were forced off the field reducing the Vodafone Warriors to 15 players as they mounted a second half revival before losing 18-34 to Parramatta on Sunday.

Round 11 - Round 11 - Friday 21 May

Full Time

Warriors

Wests Tigers

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 17 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Wests Tigers is number 1 Daine Laurie
Winger for Warriors is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 2 David Nofoaluma
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Adam Pompey

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 3 Adam Doueihi
Centre for Warriors is number 4 Euan Aitken

Centre for Wests Tigers is number 4 Joseph Leilua
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Wests Tigers is number 5 Tommy Talau
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Kodi Nikorima

Five-Eighth for Wests Tigers is number 6 Moses Mbye
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chanel Harris-Tavita

Halfback for Wests Tigers is number 7 Luke Brooks

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Jamayne Taunoa-Brown

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 8 James Tamou
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Wests Tigers is number 9 Jacob Liddle
Prop for Warriors is number 16 Bunty Afoa

Prop for Wests Tigers is number 10 Alex Twal
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Ben Murdoch-Masila

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 11 Luke Garner
2nd Row for Warriors is number 18 Eliesa Katoa

2nd Row for Wests Tigers is number 12 Luciano Leilua
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Tohu Harris

Lock for Wests Tigers is number 13 Joe Ofahengaue

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 10 Kane Evans

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 15 Shawn Blore
Interchange for Warriors is number 11 Jack Murchie

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 16 Alex Seyfarth
Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Jazz Tevaga

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 17 Thomas Mikaele
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Leeson Ah Mau

Interchange for Wests Tigers is number 19 Jake Simpkin

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 21 Edward Kosi

Reserve for Wests Tigers is number 18 Michael Chee Kam

Match Officials

Referee: Matt Noyen
Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
Senior Review Official: Alan Shortall

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:41:01 AM

Montoya slots onto the right wing for his fifth appearance of the season while Murchie is also set for his fifth outing of the year.

Berry is undergoing HIA protocols after leaving the field just before halftime on Sunday while Curran faces between two to four weeks on the sideline after hyper-extending his right elbow. Sironen is out with a meniscus issue in his left knee; it’s not yet known when he will be fit to return.

The three players join Peta Hiku (shoulder), Addin Fonua-Blake (knee), Tom Ale (ankle) and David Fusitu’a (hamstring) in a busy casualty ward. Hiku is gone for the season while Fonua-Blake and Fusitu’a are out indefinitely and Ale for two to four weeks.

Injuries haven’t allowed the Vodafone Warriors any selection stability in a campaign in which young winger Edward Kosi became the 28th player used within eight rounds when he made his first-grade debut against North Queensland.

Evans was a late omission in the front row against his old club Parramatta last week but he’s listed to start this week alongside regular front rower Jamayne Taunoa-Brown.

Apart from Montoya on the wing, the backline selected is the same as that which started against the Eels with exciting rookie Reece Walsh again named on the interchange.

Eliesa Katoa, Sean O’Sullivan and Kosi are all on the extended bench after helping feeder club Redcliffe beat the Brisbane Tigers 14-12 in Queensland’s Intrust Super Cup. Kosi and young Vodafone Warriors centre Viliami Vailea scored the Dolphins' two tries while O'Sullivan supplied the rest of the points with three goals.

Young hooker Taniela Otukolo, who has been playing for Redcliffe's colts side, is named in jersey #20, the fifth time he has been included in the extended squad.