Vodafone Warriors trio back to face Raiders

Lodge, O'Sullivan and Nikorima recalled for Canberra contest

Author: Richard Becht & photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 24 Aug 2021, 03:11 PM

Midseason signing Matt Lodge, Sean O’Sullivan and Kodi Nikorima all return for the Vodafone Warriors’ 24th-round encounter with the Canberra Raiders in Mackay in North Queensland on Friday night (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).

The 26-year-old Lodge is back from a two-match suspension for his fifth outing for the club since being signed from the Brisbane Broncos last month.

O’Sullivan is partnered in the halves with Chad Townsend and utility Kodi Nikorima comes back onto the bench after a hectic week leading up to the Brisbane encounter when his partner Bree gave birth to the couple's second child.

O'Sullivan is recalled for his 11th game this season, coming in for Chanel Harris-Tavita who is out with a foot injury but is expected to be available again next week.

Nikorima apart, the named game day bench remains the same as that originally selected last week with Bunty Afoa, Eliesa Katoa and Jazz Tevaga filling the other spots.

Included on the extended bench is centre Rocco Berry, who has been sidelined with a hamstring injury. Also named is prop Kane Evans after serving a one-game suspension and being ruled out last week with a calf injury.

Round 24 - Round 24 - Friday 27 Aug

Full Time

Warriors

Raiders

Team Lists

Backs

Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Reece Walsh

Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Jordan Rapana
Winger for Warriors is number 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

Winger for Raiders is number 2 Bailey Simonsson
Centre for Warriors is number 3 Peta Hiku

Centre for Raiders is number 3 Sebastian Kris
Centre for Warriors is number 20 Rocco Berry

Centre for Raiders is number 4 Matthew Timoko
Winger for Warriors is number 5 Marcelo Montoya

Winger for Raiders is number 5 Harley Smith-Shields
Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Sean O'Sullivan

Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Jack Wighton
Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Chad Townsend

Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Matt Frawley

Forwards

Prop for Warriors is number 8 Addin Fonua-Blake

Prop for Raiders is number 8 Josh Papalii
Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan

Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Josh Hodgson
Prop for Warriors is number 10 Matthew Lodge

Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Josh Curran

2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Euan Aitken

2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Elliott Whitehead
Lock for Warriors is number 13 Bayley Sironen

Lock for Raiders is number 13 Ryan Sutton

Interchange

Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Kodi Nikorima

Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Interchange for Warriors is number 15 Bunty Afoa

Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Emre Guler
Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Eliesa Katoa

Interchange for Raiders is number 16 Corey Horsburgh
Interchange for Warriors is number 21 Kane Evans

Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Siliva Havili

Reserves

Reserve for Warriors is number 17 Jazz Tevaga

Reserve for Raiders is number 19 Dunamis Lui

Match Officials

Referee: Ben Cummins
Touch Judge: Dave Munro
Touch Judge: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski
Senior Review Official: Grant Atkins

Last updated: 5/29/2023 4:40:52 AM

The venue for Friday night's the contest – BB Print Stadium – will be the fourth different ‘home’ ground the Vodafone Warriors have had since the competition was relocated to Queensland after the Covid-19 outbreak in New South Wales.

They have previously used Suncorp Stadium for their 18th-round clash against Penrith, Cbus Super Stadium in the 21st round against Cronulla-Sutherland and Moreton Daily Stadium against for the round 22 encounter with Canterbury-Bankstown.

The scheduling of another Friday night match means the Vodafone Warriors have a short five-day turnaround between games while Canberra has a seven-day break after its 18-19 defeat by Manly-Warringah.