Second rower Ofahiki Ogden will become the 15th player to appear in 50 matches for the Vodafone Junior Warriors when they meet table-topping Penrith in today’s 10th-round NYC match at Pepper Stadium (12.00pm kick-off local time; 2.00pm NZT).
The Mangere East Hawks junior, who turns 20 next month, is in his third and final year in the grade.
After being 18th man for the Junior Kiwis against the Junior Kangaroos last week, Ogden will have another 50-game team-mate alongside him in prop Bunty Afoa, who is also in his third and final NYC season.
The list of 50-game Vodafone Junior Warriors players so far is:
64 | Ben Henry
63 | John Palavi
62 | Mason Lino
58 | Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard
57 | Siliva Havili
56 | Bunty Afoa
54 | Ngataua Hukatai
53 | Brad Abbey
52 | Elijah Taylor
52 | Nafe Seluini
51 | Carlos Tuimavave
51 | Omar Slaimankhel
50 | Sam Lisone
50 | Siuatonga Likiliki
While Ogden and Afoa are competition veterans, today sees another player making his first NYC appearance for the club in centre Matthew Faitotoa, named on the bench.
Educated at Ipswich High School, he was with the Newcastle Knights, playing one NYC game last year.
Coach Kelvin Wright has made some positional changes to his side today. Zion Ioka moves off the bench to start in the halves, Erin Clark – who made his full Test debut for Toa Samoa last week – switches from standoff to loose forward and Chris Sio goes to the bench.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors, looking for their fourth win of the season, face a demanding assignment against a Panthers side which has lost just once in nine starts.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS
Pepper Stadium, Penrith
12.00pm, Saturday, May 14
Referee: Chris Treneman
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 KANE TELEA
2 LEWIS SOOSEMEA
3 JUNIOR PAUGA
4 MARATA NIUKORE
5 MOSE ESERA
14 ZION IOKA
7 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
8 KENESE KENESE
9 SHELDON PITAMA (c)
10 BUNTY AFOA
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 JOSEPH PRICE
6 ERIN CLARK
Interchange:
13 CHRIS SIO
15 MATTAIS HEIMULI
16 TUALIMA TUALIMA
21 MATTHEW FAITOTOA
COACH | KELVIN WRIGHT
