Vodafone Warriors coach Stacey Jones has again been forced to shuffle his playing resources for Saturday’s 21st-round New South Wales Cup clash against Newtown at Henson Park (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
Coming off just their second home defeat of the season, the Vodafone Warriors are in a four-way tie at the top of the table on 28 points but lie fourth on points for and against.
A contentious no-try ruling denied them victory against Manly last week and the chance to retain outright ownership of the lead.
Of the side used in the 16-18 loss to the Sea Eagles last Saturday, wing Ken Maumalo and loose forward Sebastine Ikahihifo have been named in the NRL line-up to face Cronulla at Mount Smart Stadium this weekend.
Sam Rapira and Glen Fisiiahi, who both played against Manly last week, have been named in the NSW Cup side this weekend. The original combination again includes three players still eligible for the NYC – wing Tomas Aoake (who made his NSW Cup debut last week), hooker Nathaniel Roache and standoff Ata Hingano.
While the Vodafone Warriors have won four of their last five games, the Newtown Jets are still eighth on 20 points despite losing their last three matches.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWTOWN JETS
Henson Park, Sydney
3.00pm, Saturday, August 01
Referee: Liam Nicholls
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 GLEN FISIIAHI
2 TOMAS AOAKE
3 MATTHEW ALLWOOD
4 DOMINIQUE PEYROUX
5 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
6 ATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO
8 UPU POCHING
9 NATHANIEL ROACHE
10 SAM RAPIRA
11 JOHN PALAVI (c)
12 JAMES BELL
13 DAVID BHANA
Interchange:
14 PATRICK SIPLEY
15 DANIEL PALAVI
16 KOUMA SAMSON
17 ZAC TIPPINS
COACH: STACEY JONES
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