Chanel Harris-Tavita has been handed a 17th birthday present he’ll never forget after being called in to debut for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in their fifth-round NYC clash against the Sydney Roosters at Central Coast Stadium in Gosford today (9.40am kick-off local time; 11.40am NZT).
With players needing to be 17 to be able to play in the competition, the highly-rated Harris-Tavita has timed it perfectly; his 17th birthday is today.
Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Kelvin Wright decided earlier in the week that the Howick Hornets junior would make his first appearance today but chose to leave the announcement until the last possible minute.
The Pakuranga College student has represented the New Zealand Residents 16s as well as the Akarana Falcons and under-15 and under-18 level.
Harris-Tavita comes in at standoff with captain Sheldon Pitama moving back to hooker.
Wright has also made some other changes as the Vodafone Junior Warriors seek their second win of the season.
Keanu Dawson is promoted from the bench to start in the front row alongside the experienced Bunty Afoa (Kenese Kenese goes to the bench) and Chris Sio, originally named at hooker, is switched to loose forward.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Central Coast Stadium, Gosford
9.40am, Sunday, April 3
Referee: Adam Cassidy
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 KANE TELEA
2 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
3 JUNIOR PAUGA
4 MELINO FINEANGANOFO
5 LEVI McBIRNEY
18 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
7 ZION IOKA
8 BUNTY AFOA
6 SHELDON PITAMA (c)
17 KEANU DAWSON
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
13 JOE VUNA
9 CHRIS SIO
Interchange:
10 KENESE KENESE
12 JOSEPH PRICE
14 TUALIMA TUALIMA
16 KOLI ONEONE
COACH | KELVIN WRIGHT
