Veteran Vodafone Warriors centre Jerome Ropati continues his comeback while Steve Rapira returns from injury when they line up against the Mounties in the New South Wales Cup today (3.00pm kick local time; 5.00pm NZT).
It will be Ropatis third straight game for the Vulcans after making a full recovery from his latest knee injury.
Rapira, wholl start in the second row, has been sidelined the last two weeks after a serious ear injury in the opening minutes of the Vodafone Warriors NRL clash against Cronulla on March 24.
Also in the side again today are Vodafone Warriors Glen Fisiiahi and Carlos Tuimavave. Fisiiahi had his first outing last week since being on bereavement leave when he lined up at fullback in the 10-22 loss to North Sydney while Tuimavave, sidelined since February with a broken hand, also came back and will again run at standoff today.
Set to make his New South Wales Cup debut is impressive Vodafone Junior Warriors winger Viliami Lolohea.
Sebastine Ikahihifo was originally selected at loose forward today but, with Jacob Lillyman and Elijah Taylor ruled out of NRL action this week, Ikahihifo is with the Vodafone Warriors for their encounter with Canberra tonight.
Among the players with NRL experience for the Mounties, Canberras feeder side, are Dimitri Pelo, Michael Bani, Jake Foster, Jarrad Kennedy, Sam Mataora, Mark Nicholls, Michael Picker and Shane Shackleton while former Vodafone Junior Warrior Scott Jones is also in the squad.
AUCKLAND VULCANS v MOUNTIES
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Hinchinbrook
3.00pm, Saturday, April 13
Referee: Chris Sutton
AUCKLAND VULCANS
1GLEN FISIIAHI
2VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
4JEROME ROPATI
5ATELEA NAFETALAI
6CARLOS TUIMAVAVE
7HARRY SIEJKA
18NATHANIEL PETERU
9SILIVA HAVILI
10SUAIA MATAGI
11JOHN PALAVI
12STEVE RAPIRA
15MURRAY ITI
Interchange:
14ZORAM WATENE
16DANIEL PALAVI
17AGNATIUS PAASI
19PATRICK SIPLEY
21TANGI ROPATI
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
It will be Ropatis third straight game for the Vulcans after making a full recovery from his latest knee injury.
Rapira, wholl start in the second row, has been sidelined the last two weeks after a serious ear injury in the opening minutes of the Vodafone Warriors NRL clash against Cronulla on March 24.
Also in the side again today are Vodafone Warriors Glen Fisiiahi and Carlos Tuimavave. Fisiiahi had his first outing last week since being on bereavement leave when he lined up at fullback in the 10-22 loss to North Sydney while Tuimavave, sidelined since February with a broken hand, also came back and will again run at standoff today.
Set to make his New South Wales Cup debut is impressive Vodafone Junior Warriors winger Viliami Lolohea.
Sebastine Ikahihifo was originally selected at loose forward today but, with Jacob Lillyman and Elijah Taylor ruled out of NRL action this week, Ikahihifo is with the Vodafone Warriors for their encounter with Canberra tonight.
Among the players with NRL experience for the Mounties, Canberras feeder side, are Dimitri Pelo, Michael Bani, Jake Foster, Jarrad Kennedy, Sam Mataora, Mark Nicholls, Michael Picker and Shane Shackleton while former Vodafone Junior Warrior Scott Jones is also in the squad.
AUCKLAND VULCANS v MOUNTIES
Aubrey Keech Reserve, Hinchinbrook
3.00pm, Saturday, April 13
Referee: Chris Sutton
AUCKLAND VULCANS
1GLEN FISIIAHI
2VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
4JEROME ROPATI
5ATELEA NAFETALAI
6CARLOS TUIMAVAVE
7HARRY SIEJKA
18NATHANIEL PETERU
9SILIVA HAVILI
10SUAIA MATAGI
11JOHN PALAVI
12STEVE RAPIRA
15MURRAY ITI
Interchange:
14ZORAM WATENE
16DANIEL PALAVI
17AGNATIUS PAASI
19PATRICK SIPLEY
21TANGI ROPATI
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
