Vodafone Warriors prop Sam Lisone will shoulder a lot of the side's workload again in tonight's third-round NYC clash against North Queensland in Townsville.
He'll have a new front row starting partner with Iulio ‘Bunty’ Afoa being called into the run-on line-up.
Afoa was named on the bench originally but he will start with the experienced James Taylor moved to the bench.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors have been boosted for the contest with Tuimoala Lolohea and David Fusitua brought into the side for the first time this year.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
1300SMILES Stadium, Townsville
5.45pm, Saturday, March 22
Referee: Michael Gordon
FIVE KEY FEATURES
#1 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA | He scored 22 tries in 28 NYC games last year. Since then he has had NRL trials for the Vodafone Warriors and represented the club at the inaugural NRL Nines at Eden Park. In the first two weeks of the season he turned out for the club’s New South Wales Cup side.
#2 DAVID FUSITUA | After making his NRL debut for an unavailable Manu Vatuvei last week, Fusitua will tonight complete the full set of having played for each of the Vodafone Warriors’ three teams in the first three rounds of the season. He played in the New South Wales Cup side in the first round.
#3 IULIO ‘BUNTY’ AFOA | After his NYC debut from the bench against the Dragons last week, the St Paul’s College product starts tonight. He impressed in a beaten side a week ago, making more than 80 metres from six full-force carries while also adding 13 tackles. He brings plenty of energy to his game.
#4 SAM LISONE | He will carry much of the responsibility for getting his team forward tonight. He was a standout against the Dragons last week gaining 166 metres from 16 runs and also making 25 tackles to win the players’ player of the day award.
#5 KEN MAUMALO | Maumalo is switched from the centres to the second row tonight. He scored one of the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ three tries last week and made a game-high 171 metres from 15 carries including six tackle breaks. He moves in to make way for David Fusitua.
VODAFONE 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
17 BUNTY AFOA
11 MICHAEL KI
12 KEN MAUMALO
13 KOUMA SAMSON
Interchange:
10 JAMES TAYLOR
14 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
15 JORDAN BALDWINSON
16 JAZZ TEVAGA
COACH: STACEY JONES
