Regaining their spot in the top four will be the reward if the Vodafone Junior Warriors secure their second win of the season against Melbourne in todays 20th-round NYC match at Mount Smart Stadium (kick-off 11.45am).
Canterbury-Bankstown moved into fourth spot with its big victory over Parramatta on Friday night but success against the Storm today will draw the Vodafone Junior Warriors level with the Bulldogs on 27 points but ahead on points for and against.
On Anzac Day the Vodafone Junior Warriors beat Melbourne 36-20 at a time when they were started to develop some rhythm.
They come into todays encounter on the back of one of their most solid displays of the year following their 22-12 triumph over Wests Tigers last Friday.
Once again they will show some changes to the side originally named earlier in the week. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard was selected to start in the centres but goes to the bench with second rower Stedman Lefau replacing him; Kouma Samson, listed to start on the bench, has been switched to prop; loose forward Sam Lisone moves into the second row; and Sam Cook is off the bench to start at loose forward.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
11.45am, Sunday, July 28
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1NGATAUA HUKATAI
2METIA LISATI
3LAFU FEAGAIGA
11STEDMAN LEFAU
5VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8JAMES TAYLOR
9MICHAEL SIO (c)
17KOUMA SAMSON
13SAM LISONE
12SIONE FEAO
14SAM COOK
Interchange:
4ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
10TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
16ABRAHAM PAPALII
20TAMA KOOPU
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
Canterbury-Bankstown moved into fourth spot with its big victory over Parramatta on Friday night but success against the Storm today will draw the Vodafone Junior Warriors level with the Bulldogs on 27 points but ahead on points for and against.
On Anzac Day the Vodafone Junior Warriors beat Melbourne 36-20 at a time when they were started to develop some rhythm.
They come into todays encounter on the back of one of their most solid displays of the year following their 22-12 triumph over Wests Tigers last Friday.
Once again they will show some changes to the side originally named earlier in the week. Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard was selected to start in the centres but goes to the bench with second rower Stedman Lefau replacing him; Kouma Samson, listed to start on the bench, has been switched to prop; loose forward Sam Lisone moves into the second row; and Sam Cook is off the bench to start at loose forward.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
11.45am, Sunday, July 28
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1NGATAUA HUKATAI
2METIA LISATI
3LAFU FEAGAIGA
11STEDMAN LEFAU
5VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7EKO MALU
8JAMES TAYLOR
9MICHAEL SIO (c)
17KOUMA SAMSON
13SAM LISONE
12SIONE FEAO
14SAM COOK
Interchange:
4ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
10TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
16ABRAHAM PAPALII
20TAMA KOOPU
HEAD COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
