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Craig HillCleary makes changes
June 10th 2008 04:38
MEDIA RELEASE - New Zealand Warriors
The Vodafone Warriors will take a reshuffled line-up into Saturday night’s 14th-round NRL clash against Cronulla at Toyota Stadium.
Captain Steve Price and centre Brent Tate have both been named to return, backing up after playing for Queensland in tomorrow night’s second State of Origin match in Brisbane.
Their inclusion sees fill-in centre Wairangi Koopu and prop Sam Rapira moved to a five-man bench after they started against South Sydney last Friday night.
Also returning to the starting line-up at fullback is Lance Hohaia, replacing Patrick Ah Van who has been included as one of the interchange options after starting at fullback against Newcastle and South Sydney.
Recalled for his 181st first-grade appearance is veteran second rower Logan Swann (33), teaming up in the back row with fellow second rower Simon Mannering and loose forward Micheal Luck. He comes in at the expense of Epalahame Lauaki, who is set to line up for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup competition.
Also moved out of the playing squad are second rower Sonny Fai (20) and prop Russell Packer (18). They’ll turn out for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in Saturday night’s NYC curtain-raiser against the Sharks. Fai has played in nine of the first 12 NRL matches of the season while Packer has featured in each of the last five games.
The other notable selection is that of 19-year-old Wellingtonian Ben Matulino on the interchange bench. He becomes the third player after Fai and Packer to be promoted from the NYC side to make his NRL debut this season. Matulino, who has been highly impressive in the under-20 competition, will become the 142nd player to appear at first-grade level for the Vodafone Warriors.
“Ben has been on the cusp of this promotion for a while,” said coach Ivan Cleary.
“With Sonny and Russell, it was always part of the plan for them to go back to the NYC team after having a taste of NRL football. It’s part of their development and now Ben has his chance to experience NRL football.”
The New Zealand Warriors side to face the Sharks is -
1- Lance Hohaia
2- Michael Crockett
3- Brent Tate
4- Jerome Ropati
5- Manu Vatuvei
6- Nathan Fien
7- Grant Rovelli
8- Ruben Wiki (vc)
9- Ian Henderson
10- Steve Price (c)
11- Simon Mannering
12- Logan Swann
13- Michael Luck (c)
Interchange -
14- Patrick Ah Van
15- Evarn Tuimavave
16- Sam Rapira
17– Ben Matulino
18 - Wairangi Koopu
2- Michael Crockett
3- Brent Tate
4- Jerome Ropati
5- Manu Vatuvei
6- Nathan Fien
7- Grant Rovelli
8- Ruben Wiki (vc)
9- Ian Henderson
10- Steve Price (c)
11- Simon Mannering
12- Logan Swann
13- Michael Luck (c)
Interchange -
14- Patrick Ah Van
15- Evarn Tuimavave
16- Sam Rapira
17– Ben Matulino
18 - Wairangi Koopu
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