Rugby league returns to Mount Smart Stadium’s main arena for the first time this year when the Vodafone Warriors host the North Sydney Bears in the opening round of the Intrust Super Premiership and Jersey Flegg Cup (under-20) competitions tomorrow (Saturday).
The double header provides an appetiser for the main event later tomorrow night when the Vodafone Warriors take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Perth (9.00pm kick-off NZT).
The Jersey Flegg match kicks off at 11.00am followed by the ISP fixture at 1.00pm.
In John Teina’s debut as the club’s ISP coach, the Vodafone Warriors will field six players with NRL experience – wing Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, new signing Karl Lawton at hooker, prop Chris Satae, second rower James Bell, interchange hooker Manaia Cherrington and Zac Santo, also named on the interchange.
- Free entry and use of the car park via Maurice Road.
- Ground entry via Gate B.
- Public to sit in the East Stand.
INTRUST SUPER PREMIERSHIP
Vodafone Warriors v North Sydney Bears
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
1.00pm, Saturday, March 10
Vodafone Warriors: 1 Hayze Perham; 2 Lewis Soosemea, 3 Joseph Vuna, 4 Cole Waaka, 5 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad; 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Tevin Arona; 8 Patrick Sipley, 9 Karl Lawton, 10 Chris Satae; 11 Matiu Love-Henry, 12 James Bell (c); 13 Sione Afemui. Interchange: 14 Manaia Cherrington, 15 Trent Schaumkel, 17 Reece Charlie, 18 Daniel Reuelu-Buchanan, 20 Zac Santo.
North Sydney Bears: 1 Braidon Burns; 2 Tyrone Taukomo, 3 Mawene Hiroti, 4 Jake Tago, 5 Sean Sabutey; 6 Connor Tracey, 7 Dean Hawkins; 8 Zane Musgrove, 9 Billy Brittain, 10 Rhys Kennedy; 11 Sifa Talakai, 12 Tarquinn Alatipi; 13 Dean Britt. Interchange: 14 Jesse Martin, 15 Vincent Leuluai, 16 Ky Rodwell, 17 Max Bailey.
JERSEY FLEGG CUP
Vodafone Warriors v North Sydney Bears
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
11.00am, Saturday, March 10
Vodafone Warriors: 1 Tevita Mikaele; 2 Kayal Iro, 3 Elijah Sufia, 4 Patrick Elia, 5 Edward Kosi; 6 Paul Turner, 7 Eiden Ackland; 8 Soane Hufunga (c), 9 Sheldon Rogers, 10 Wesley Veikoso; 11 Harvey Tupouniua, 12 Preston Riki; 13 Tayhler Paora. Interchange: 14 Sam Nati, 15 Tom Ale, 16 Lotu Inisi, 17 Brody Tamarua, 18 Dylan Tavita, 21 Sione Tuipolotu.
North Sydney Bears: 1 Kyle Tukapua; 2 Tyrone Taukomo, 3 Ethan Abou-Ghaida, 4 Nicholas Mougios, 5 Kane Allen; 6 Kieran Hayman, 7 Kurtis Preece; 8 Jubilee Soloa, 9 Treymaine Brown, 10 Sam Johnstone; 11 Keaon Koloamatangi, 12 Tarquinn Alatipi; 13 Corey Kurnoth. Interchange: 14 Luke Casson, 15 Josh Cook, 16 Luke Hodge, 17 Cameron Yeates.