Glen Fisiiahi, Jacob Lillyman, Elijah Taylor, Pita Godinet and Jerome Ropati (pictured) have all been selected for the Vodafone Warriors traditional Anzac Day NRL match against Melbourne at AAMI Park on Thursday (7.00pm kick-off; 9.00pm NZT). Photo: Photosport.
After appearing for the Auckland Vulcans in their last two New South Wales Cup matches, Fisiiahi comes into the NRL line-up replacing the injured Manu Vatuvei.
Earlier in the season, Fisiiahi was on the wing for the opening two rounds against Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters.
Also back from injury are prop Lillyman and utilities Taylor and Godinet while long-serving centre Ropati is a chance of making his first NRL appearance of the season after being included on a five-man bench. Ropati has been making his comeback from knee surgery with the Vulcans over the past month.
Lillymans return ensures the Vodafone Warriors will have their experienced front row rotation at work for the first time in 18 matches stretching back to the clash against the Storm in Auckland on June 3.
It was hoped Lillyman, Sam Rapira, Russell Packer and Ben Matulino would be reunited against the Raiders but Lillyman hadnt fully recovered from an ankle injury.
While Fisiiahi, Lillyman, Taylor, Ropati and Godinet are all named in the squad, Vatuvei is out for up to three weeks after aggravating his sternum injury in the warm-up for the clubs last clash against Canberra on April 13. Despite being in some discomfort, Vatuvei scored two tries and played the full 80 minutes in a display which saw his peers named him the players player of the day.
Also ruled out is former Storm centre Dane Nielsen and, while he is travelling with the team, captain Simon Mannering is not expected to play. He hasnt recovered from the calf injury which forced him to miss leading the Kiwis for the first time in last Friday nights Anzac Test against Australia and Nielsen is still troubled by the rib complaint which forced him off the field early in the Canberra encounter.
We have obviously lost significant experience with Simon, Manu and Dane out of the side but thats just something you have to deal with in this competition, said Vodafone Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott.
While we lose them weve been able to bring back Glen, Jake, Elijah, Pita and Jerome so theres a definite upside as well.
With Mannering missing, Ben Henry is named to start in the second row while rookie Ngani Laumape returns to the centres in Nielsens absence and Bill Tupou, on the bench against the Raiders, is the other starting winger. Godinet, a late defection with a back injury in Canberra, is on the bench with Taylor, Lillyman, Ben Matulino and Ropati.
The game will have special significance for loose forward Todd Lowrie, wholl line up against his old club for the first time since being part of the grand final-winning side last season.
The Vodafone Warriors fly out to Melbourne this afternoon and will have their final training run there tomorrow before Thursdays match.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
AAMI Park, Melbourne
7.00pm, Thursday, April 25
Referees: Matt Cecchin and Henry Perenara
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
2BILL TUPOU
3NGANI LAUMAPE
4KONRAD HURRELL
5GLEN FISIIAHI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
8SAM RAPIRA
9NATHAN FRIEND
10RUSSELL PACKER
11FELETI MATEO
12BEN HENRY
13TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
14ELIJAH TAYLOR
15BEN MATULINO
16JACOB LILLYMAN
17PITA GODINET
18JEROME ROPATI
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
After appearing for the Auckland Vulcans in their last two New South Wales Cup matches, Fisiiahi comes into the NRL line-up replacing the injured Manu Vatuvei.
Earlier in the season, Fisiiahi was on the wing for the opening two rounds against Parramatta and the Sydney Roosters.
Also back from injury are prop Lillyman and utilities Taylor and Godinet while long-serving centre Ropati is a chance of making his first NRL appearance of the season after being included on a five-man bench. Ropati has been making his comeback from knee surgery with the Vulcans over the past month.
Lillymans return ensures the Vodafone Warriors will have their experienced front row rotation at work for the first time in 18 matches stretching back to the clash against the Storm in Auckland on June 3.
It was hoped Lillyman, Sam Rapira, Russell Packer and Ben Matulino would be reunited against the Raiders but Lillyman hadnt fully recovered from an ankle injury.
While Fisiiahi, Lillyman, Taylor, Ropati and Godinet are all named in the squad, Vatuvei is out for up to three weeks after aggravating his sternum injury in the warm-up for the clubs last clash against Canberra on April 13. Despite being in some discomfort, Vatuvei scored two tries and played the full 80 minutes in a display which saw his peers named him the players player of the day.
Also ruled out is former Storm centre Dane Nielsen and, while he is travelling with the team, captain Simon Mannering is not expected to play. He hasnt recovered from the calf injury which forced him to miss leading the Kiwis for the first time in last Friday nights Anzac Test against Australia and Nielsen is still troubled by the rib complaint which forced him off the field early in the Canberra encounter.
We have obviously lost significant experience with Simon, Manu and Dane out of the side but thats just something you have to deal with in this competition, said Vodafone Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott.
While we lose them weve been able to bring back Glen, Jake, Elijah, Pita and Jerome so theres a definite upside as well.
With Mannering missing, Ben Henry is named to start in the second row while rookie Ngani Laumape returns to the centres in Nielsens absence and Bill Tupou, on the bench against the Raiders, is the other starting winger. Godinet, a late defection with a back injury in Canberra, is on the bench with Taylor, Lillyman, Ben Matulino and Ropati.
The game will have special significance for loose forward Todd Lowrie, wholl line up against his old club for the first time since being part of the grand final-winning side last season.
The Vodafone Warriors fly out to Melbourne this afternoon and will have their final training run there tomorrow before Thursdays match.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
AAMI Park, Melbourne
7.00pm, Thursday, April 25
Referees: Matt Cecchin and Henry Perenara
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1KEVIN LOCKE
2BILL TUPOU
3NGANI LAUMAPE
4KONRAD HURRELL
5GLEN FISIIAHI
6THOMAS LEULUAI
7SHAUN JOHNSON
8SAM RAPIRA
9NATHAN FRIEND
10RUSSELL PACKER
11FELETI MATEO
12BEN HENRY
13TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
14ELIJAH TAYLOR
15BEN MATULINO
16JACOB LILLYMAN
17PITA GODINET
18JEROME ROPATI
HEAD COACH: MATTHEW ELLIOTT
