Hooker Kurt Robinson and standoff Ata Hingano return from injury lay-offs for the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 15th-round NYC clash against third-placed Brisbane at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday (3.10pm kick-off; match day sponsor: flava).
They were both injured early in the June 1 clash against the Newcastle Knights and subsequently missed the 26-28 loss to South Sydney the following week.
Hingano comes in for Mikaere Beattie while Nathaniel Roache moves back to the bench to make way for Robinson to start in the dummy half’s role.
Of the side used against South Sydney, centre Ngataua Hukatai is now with the club’s New South Wales Cup side; he is replaced by Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, who is moved from the second row.
Back in the starting side at loose forward James Bell, who has scored five tries in his 10 NYC appearances so far. Used off the bench against the Rabbitohs he made 106 metres from 10 carries and also came up with 24 tackles.
Captain Mason Lino goes into the match needing just seven points to become only the second Vodafone Junior Warrior to score 400 NYC points. His three goals against Souths lifted his career tally to 393 and his 2014 total to 102, the third season running he has topped the century.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors are seventh on the ladder with 16 points, five behind the Broncos.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v BRISBANE BRONCOS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
3.10pm, Saturday, June 21
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 PAUL ULBERG
3 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
4 KEN MAUMALO
5 METIA LISATI
6 MAFOA’AEATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO (c)
8 IULIO AFOA
9 KURT ROBINSON
10 KOUMA SAMSON
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
13 JAMES BELL
Interchange:
14 NATHANIEL ROACHE
15 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY
16 JAZZ TEVAGA
17 SEMISI TYRELL
COACH: STACEY JONES
