Vodafone Warriors utility Pita Godinet lines up at halfback for the Vulcans when they aim for their fourth win on end in the New South Wales Cup tonight. Photo: Photosport.
The Auckland Vulcans unbeaten run goes on the line against fourth-placed Windsor in tonights New South Wales Cup clash at the Windsor Sporting Complex in Sydney (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).
The Vulcans have been impressive over the past month, emulating the Vodafone Warriors three-game NRL winning streak to surge up the table to sit sixth going into this weekends matches.
After losing their previous three games they began their sequence by beating top four side Newcastle 28-24 on May 26 before picking off lower-ranked Illawarra 36-10 and Manly 38-10.
The Vulcans made the most of all three matches being played at home but will now have to test themselves away against a Windsor side hurting from a 22-26 loss to Newtown last week.
Of the Vulcans six wins so far, only one was achieved on the road.
Another challenge for them today will be losing goal-kicking halfback Harry Siejka, who was granted an early release from his Vodafone Warriors contract this week. His departure sees Carlos Tuimavave moving to standoff from the centres and Pita Godinet starting at halfback. Godinet, who has made 10 NRL appearances this year, was an influential figure in last weeks win against Manly scoring the first two tries of the match and have a telling effect throughout the match.
With Tuimavave moving into the halves, utility Sio Siua Taukeiaho will make his return from injury in the centres after originally being included on the bench.
There are two key changes to the starting pack originally named. Nathaniel Peteru and Murray Iti both go to the interchange with Suaia Matagi coming into the front row and Sebastine Ikahihifo in at loose forward. Matagi and Ikahihifo both played for the Vodafone Warriors in last Sundays NRL clash against the Sea Eagles and were originally on a seven-man bench named for tomorrow nights battle against the Sydney Roosters.
A total of 10 contracted Vodafone Warriors players are in the Vulcans starting line-up tonight. Apart from Tuimavave, Godinet, Taukeiaho, Matagi and Ikahihifo, Bill Tupou is on the wing, Jerome Ropati in the centres, Alehana Mara at hooker and John Palavi and Sam Lousi in the second row. An 11th Vodafone Warriors player hooker Siliva Havili is on the bench
AUCKLAND VULCANS v WINDSOR WOLVES
Windsor Sporting Complex, Sydney
6.00pm, Saturday, June 15
Referee: Adam Cassidy
AUCKLAND VULCANS v WINDSOR WOLVES
1STEVE WAETFORD
2BILL TUPOU
3JEROME ROPATI
15SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
5TANGI ROPATI
4CARLOS TUIMAVAVE
6PITA GODINET
18SUAIA MATAGI
9ALEHANA MARA
10DANIEL PALAVI
11JOHN PALAVI
12SAM LOUSI
19SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
Interchange:
8NATHANIEL PETERU
13MURRAY ITI
14SILIVA HAVILI
16AGNATIUS PAASI
17HERMAN RETZLAFF
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
The Auckland Vulcans unbeaten run goes on the line against fourth-placed Windsor in tonights New South Wales Cup clash at the Windsor Sporting Complex in Sydney (6.00pm kick-off local time; 8.00pm NZT).
The Vulcans have been impressive over the past month, emulating the Vodafone Warriors three-game NRL winning streak to surge up the table to sit sixth going into this weekends matches.
After losing their previous three games they began their sequence by beating top four side Newcastle 28-24 on May 26 before picking off lower-ranked Illawarra 36-10 and Manly 38-10.
The Vulcans made the most of all three matches being played at home but will now have to test themselves away against a Windsor side hurting from a 22-26 loss to Newtown last week.
Of the Vulcans six wins so far, only one was achieved on the road.
Another challenge for them today will be losing goal-kicking halfback Harry Siejka, who was granted an early release from his Vodafone Warriors contract this week. His departure sees Carlos Tuimavave moving to standoff from the centres and Pita Godinet starting at halfback. Godinet, who has made 10 NRL appearances this year, was an influential figure in last weeks win against Manly scoring the first two tries of the match and have a telling effect throughout the match.
With Tuimavave moving into the halves, utility Sio Siua Taukeiaho will make his return from injury in the centres after originally being included on the bench.
There are two key changes to the starting pack originally named. Nathaniel Peteru and Murray Iti both go to the interchange with Suaia Matagi coming into the front row and Sebastine Ikahihifo in at loose forward. Matagi and Ikahihifo both played for the Vodafone Warriors in last Sundays NRL clash against the Sea Eagles and were originally on a seven-man bench named for tomorrow nights battle against the Sydney Roosters.
A total of 10 contracted Vodafone Warriors players are in the Vulcans starting line-up tonight. Apart from Tuimavave, Godinet, Taukeiaho, Matagi and Ikahihifo, Bill Tupou is on the wing, Jerome Ropati in the centres, Alehana Mara at hooker and John Palavi and Sam Lousi in the second row. An 11th Vodafone Warriors player hooker Siliva Havili is on the bench
AUCKLAND VULCANS v WINDSOR WOLVES
Windsor Sporting Complex, Sydney
6.00pm, Saturday, June 15
Referee: Adam Cassidy
AUCKLAND VULCANS v WINDSOR WOLVES
1STEVE WAETFORD
2BILL TUPOU
3JEROME ROPATI
15SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
5TANGI ROPATI
4CARLOS TUIMAVAVE
6PITA GODINET
18SUAIA MATAGI
9ALEHANA MARA
10DANIEL PALAVI
11JOHN PALAVI
12SAM LOUSI
19SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO
Interchange:
8NATHANIEL PETERU
13MURRAY ITI
14SILIVA HAVILI
16AGNATIUS PAASI
17HERMAN RETZLAFF
HEAD COACH: WILLIE SWANN
