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Injury has again ruled centre  Lafu Feagaiga out of the Vodafone Junior Warriors' clash against the Bulldogs today. Photo: www.photosport.co.nz

Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Stacey Jones has been forced to make significant changes to his line-up for today’s sixth-round NYC clash against Canterbury-Bankstown at Eden Park (1.40pm kick-off; match day sponsor: SKYCITY).

With winger Metia Lisati called up to the New South Wales Cup side and centre Lafu Feagaiga again ruled out with injury, Jones has gone for a new centres duo.

Braxton Stanley was named to start there but now moves back out onto the wing – where he has been playing this season – while Ken Maumalo and Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, both originally selected in the back row, come into the centres.

Kouma Samson is shifted from prop to loose forward while Ofahiki Ogden comes into the second row and Toafofoa Sipley returns to start at prop.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors are seeking their third win of the season. They put two victories together before falling 26-32 to Cronulla last Saturday.

 

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN

Eden Park, Auckland

1.40pm, Sunday, April 13

Referee: Matt Noyen and Ziggy Przeklaski-Adamski

 

FIVE KEY FEATURES

#1 BRAD ABBEY | The 17-year-old Abbey (he doesn’t turn 18 until the end of the year) has made an impressive start to his NYC career playing in every game this year. He has just been signed to the end of 2016.

#2 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD | Tuimavave-Gerrard is the fix-it man. Thgis week he moves from the back row into the centres. He topped the side’s tackle count with 34 against the Sharks last week.

#3 KEN MAUMALO | Like Tuimavave-Gerrard, he’s proving to be an option in both the centres and the back row. He had a busy day in the centres last week making more than 200 metres and laying on a try.

#4 JAMES TAYLOR | The tough front rower returns from a foot injury which forced him to miss most of the Wests Tigers encounter and sidelined him last week. He’s a key factor off the bench.

#5 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY | The big forward has been missing the last few weeks but earns a recall as a result of the line-up reshuffle. Another St Paul’s College product, he gives the side real size.

 

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

1        BRAD ABBEY

2        TOMAS PATELESIO

12       KEN MAUMALO

13       ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD

3        BRAXTON STANLEY

6        MAFOA’AEATA HINGANO

7        MASON LINO (c)

8        SAM LISONE (c)

9        KURT ROBINSON

17       TOAFOFOA SIPLEY

11       MICHAEL KI

22       OFAHIKI OGDEN

10       KOUMA SAMSON

Interchange:

14       NATHANIEL ROACHE

15       JAMES BELL

16       JAMES TAYLOR

20       IULIO AFOA

23       PAUL ULBERG

COACH: STACEY JONES

Acknowledgement of Country

The New Zealand Warriors honour the mana of the Indigenous peoples of Aotearoa, Australia and the Pacific. We acknowledge the traditional kaitiaki of the lands, elders past and present, their stories, their traditions, their mamae and their mana motuhake.

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