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NRL Media Releases New Zealand Warriors - NRL News

Cleary 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

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Posted By: StephenP - Category: NRL Media Releases, New Zealand Warriors

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Wiki to take on Souths

June 3rd 2008 05:32

MEDIA RELEASE - New Zealand Warriors

Vice-captain Ruben Wiki will move within three games of his landmark 300th NRL appearance when he returns to the Vodafone Warriors’ line-up for Friday night’s clash against South Sydney at Mt Smart Stadium.

With captain Steve Price on State of Origin duty with Queensland, Wiki (35) will start at prop after playing 70 minutes straight for the Auckland Vulcans in their New South Wales Cup match against Western Suburbs last Saturday.

Wiki’s last NRL outing was against Penrith on May 18, taking his career tally to 296. He needs four more matches to become only the 10th player in the competition’s 100-year history to make 300 first-grade appearances.

Wiki’s return is one of several changes to the side that beat the Newcastle Knights 18-16 on Saturday night, the Vodafone Warriors’ first away victory of the season.

Apart from Price returning to the Queensland side after missing the opening Origin game through injury, centre Brent Tate has been retained in the Maroons.

His absence has resulted in Aidan Kirk moving from the left wing into the centres, a position he has filled regularly for the Auckland Lions and the Auckland Vulcans over the last two seasons.

Another feature of the side is the inclusion of giant winger Manu Vatuvei’s after a six-week stint on the sideline. He scored seven tries in the first seven matches of the year but hasn’t played since the clash against Gold Coast on April 27, when he was forced off with what turned out to be a spiral fracture of his left fibula.

Also back in the side is utility Lance Hohaia, who missed the Newcastle trip with a thigh injury. While he has been the regular fullback since replacing Kirk in the opening match of the season, Hohaia will be used off the bench this time with Patrick Ah Van retained after his match-winning deeds against the Knights.

Ah Van was outstanding in his first outing at fullback this season, scoring a try and kicking three goals from four attempts including the winning penalty. He gained 157 metres from 15 runs (including 118 metres from nine kick returns), he made six tackles and missed none, was credited with four tackle breaks and he made no errors.

There’s also a change in the Vodafone Warriors’ starting second row combination on Friday night where Epalahame Lauaki moves back into the run-on combination and 20-year-old Sonny Fai goes onto the bench.

The Warriors side to meet the Rabbitohs is -

1- Patric Ah Van
2- Michael Crockett
3- Aiden Kirk
4- Jerome Ropati
5- Manu Vatuvei
6- Nathan Fien
7- Grant Rovelli
8- Ruben Wiki (vc)
9- Ian Henderson
10- Sam Rapira
11- Simon Mannering
12- Epahalame Lauaki
13- Michael Luck (c)

Interchange -
14- Lance Hohaia
15- Evarn Tuimavave
16- Russell Packer
17– Sonny Fai

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Posted By: StephenP - Category: NRL Media Releases, New Zealand Warriors

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Price and McKinnon extend contracts

May 31st 2008 08:41

MEDIA RELEASE - New Zealand Warriors

Captain Steve Price and fullback Wade McKinnon have extended their stays with the Vodafone Warriors.

Just back from a long lay-off with a hamstring injury, 34-year-old Price will lead the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL campaign next year, adding a fifth season to his time at Mount Smart Stadium.

And McKinnon (27) has signed a new two-year deal which will keep him at the club until the end of the 2011 season.

McKinnon’s contract extension comes at a time when he and the club’s medical staff are now highly optimistic that he’ll be able to return from his season-threatening knee injury before the end of the 2008 campaign.

The contract announcements follow confirmation that Brisbane winger-fullback Denan Kemp (21) will join the club on a two-year deal for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Price, who made his 285th NRL appearance against Newcastle last night, was thrilled to sign a new deal for a 16th season in the competition.

“I’m so pleased to have another year with the Vodafone Warriors,” he said.

“It was a great move for our family to come to Auckland (in 2005) and I’m excited about being able to add another season onto my time with the club. It’s a real boost after coming back from injury last week.

“Our medical staff did a brilliant job getting me back on the field and I’m really looking forward to doing all I can to help the team from now on.”

McKinnon is also set to have five seasons with the Vodafone Warriors after signing his new deal.
With Price, he was one of the club’s best players in 2007, making a huge impression in his debut year in Auckland. He needed a knee reconstruction after damaging anterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee in a trial match against Newcastle in February.

It was originally thought he’d be out for the season but Vodafone Warriors team doctor John Mayhew has indicated McKinnon is now in line to return to the field before the end of the season.

“Wade has worked really hard and has made much better progress than expected,” he said.

“While we can’t put a date on it, we are now optimistic he’ll be back on the field later in the season.”

Whenever McKinnon does return, his first match back will be especially poignant. Not only will it mark his comeback from a major operation but it will also be his 100th NRL appearance.

Price is also in sight of a milestone, one of the biggest in the game. After last night’s outing – his 63rd for the Vodafone Warriors – he needs 15 more to join a list of just nine players who have reached the 300-game barrier in the competition’s 100-year history.

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Posted By: StephenP - Category: NRL Media Releases, New Zealand Warriors

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