Experience boost for Vodafone Warriors in ISP

Author: Richard Becht & www.photosport.nz
Timestamp: Tue 20 Mar 2018, 04:27 PM

Experienced centres Blake Ayshford and Anthony Gelling have been named to make their first appearances of season for the Vodafone Warriors’ Intrust Super Premiership clash against Penrith in Sydney on Saturday (3.00pm kick-off local time; 5.00pm NZT).

Ayshford, a 167-game NRL veteran, has his first outing after recovering from a back injury which ruled him out for the first two weeks of the season.

Ex-Wigan star Gelling makes his debut for the club after being on the extended bench for the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL encounters with South Sydney and Gold Coast. He has again been listed on the eight-man NRL bench for Saturday’s clash against Canberra but is set to be on ISP duty.

Also having his first start for the side is wing Johnny Tuivasa-Sheck after being used from the bench in last Saturday’s 14-30 loss to Canterbury-Bankstown.

Another player having his first ISP run this season is hooker Sam Cook. After featuring in all but one of the reserve grade side’s games last year, Cook earned his NRL debut against South Sydney and was used again from the bench against Gold Coast. However, with a total of only 19 minutes in the two games, he has been brought into the ISP frame to give him some much-needed game time.

There’s a change in the back row with Joe Vuna switched from the centres to the second row and co-captain James Bell moving to loose forward.

The Vodafone Warriors face a Panthers side which has also started the season with a win and a loss.

Meanwhile, the Vodafone Junior Warriors go into their first away match of the season looking for their first win of the campaign after setbacks against North Sydney and Canterbury-Bankstown.

The Panthers have won each of their first two outings