Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones has been able to name his strongest side so far this season for the third-round NYC encounter with North Queensland in Townsville on Saturday (5.45pm kick-off local time; 8.45pm NZT).
Appearing for the team for the first time this season will be NYC-eligible David Fusitua and Tuimoala Lolohea.
Lolohea has played both New South Wales Cup games so far this season while Fusitua appeared in the first match on March 8 before making his NRL debut for the Vodafone Warriors against St George Illawarra last Saturday.
They’ve both become available for NYC football with the NSW Cup side having a bye this weekend.
They join prop Sam Lisone who also had exposure in the NSW Cup on March 8, played for the Vodafone Junior Warriors last Saturday and was also 18th man for the NRL side.
Fusitua, who replaced Manu Vatuvei in the NRL line-up at Eden Park, has been named in the centres to take on the North Queensland NYC team while Lolohea is at standoff. Lolohea played all 28 NYC matches last year, scoring 134 points including 22 tries.
With Fusitua named, Ken Maumalo, a try scorer against the Dragons at Eden Park, is moved into the second row. Returning at loose forward is Kouma Samson after being forced out with a corked thigh last weekend.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
5.45pm, Saturday, March 22
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 METIA LISATI
3 LAFU FEAGAIGA
4 DAVID FUSITUA
5 BRAXTON STANLEY
6 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
7 MASON LINO (c)
8 SAM LISONE (c)
9 KURT ROBINSON
10 JAMES TAYLOR
11 MICHAEL KI
12 KEN MAUMALO
13 KOUMA SAMSON
Interchange:
14 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
15 JORDAN BALDWINSON
16 JAZZ TEVAGA
17 BUNTY AFOA
18 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
COACH: STACEY JONES
