Selection consistency is almost impossible to achieve in the New South Wales Cup and once again Vodafone Warriors coach Stacey Jones has been forced to shuffle his line-up for Saturday’s 22nd-round encounter with North Sydney (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).
In a major setback he has lost young hooker Nathaniel Roache, who had his season ended by a pectoral injury in the 68th minute of last Saturday’s 30-28 win over Newtown.
Still NYC eligible, Roache had been impressive in helping the Vodafone Warriors to secure a place among the competition’s top sides.
Jones will also be without centre/second rower Dominique Peyroux who has been named on an extended bench for the club’s NRL side for Saturday’s clash against St George Illawarra.
While losing Roache and Peyroux, Jones has gained Konrad Hurrell in the centres and fullback Glen Fisiiahi is also set to return after missing the Newtown match and back rower Sione Lousi is back after being in the NRL squad last week. He starts at loose forward while NYC–eligible Marata Niukore is in the second row for Peyroux. David Bhana switches to hooker to replace Roache and Northcote’s Levi Norton is on the bench again after making his debut last week.
The Vodafone Warriors are equal first on 30 points going into this week's round but are third on points for and against. They face a North Sydney side which has surged back into form and now sits just inside the top eight after winning seven of its last nine games.
Among those named to play for the Bears are Darryl Millard, Kirisome Auva’a, Joel Reddy and Paul Carter.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NORTH SYDNEY BEARS
North Sydney Oval, Sydney
3.00pm, Saturday, August 08
Referee: Drew Oultram
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 GLEN FISIIAHI
2 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
3 MATTHEW ALLWOOD
4 KONRAD HURRELL
5 SAULA SOLOMONA
6 ATA HINGANO
7 MASON LINO
8 UPU POCHING
9 DAVID BHANA
10 SAM RAPIRA
11 JOHN PALAVI (c)
12 MARATA NIUKORE
13 SIONE LOUSI
Interchange:
14 PATRICK SIPLEY
15 JAMES BELL
16 KOUMA SAMSON
17 LEVI NORTON
COACH: STACEY JONES
