The future will precede the present when the One New Zealand Warriors and the Pasifika Aotearoa Collective put young teams on the field in today’s curtain raiser at Mount Smart Stadium (2.30pm kick-off).
The club and PAC launched a partnership last December creating a number of benefits for both organisations, not least in the pathways area.
Today’s clash between a One New Zealand Warriors under-17 side and a Pasifika Aotearoa Collective under-18 line-up is a manifestation of the relationship.
The collective was formed last year bringing together bodies from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tokelau, Tonga and the New Zealand Māori Rugby League with the goal of delivering a stronger voice and more opportunities for Pasifika and Māori rugby league.
This match is a watershed moment for both organisations, especially for the PAC.
It was preceded during the week by a special function at Mount Smart Stadium when jerseys were presented to the players from both teams .
One New Zealand Warriors recruitment, development and pathways general manager Andrew McFadden told those in attendance that the liaison was to helping to create opportunities to provide the NRL team with more home-grown players.
"We want a premiership-winning Warriors team full of home-grown talent, premiership-winning players developed right here. And that's what this game is all about," he said.
ONE NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS U-17 v PASIFIKA AOTEAROA COLLECTIVE U-18
2.30pm, Saturday, April 15
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
ONE NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS U-17
1 RICO WARD-LAWRENCE
2 JACKSON STEWART
3 COMPTON PURCELL
4 NGANATATAFU VAKE
5 LUCKY KALI
6 MAUI WINITANA-PATELESIO
7 NOAH JENSEN
8 JASON SALALILO
9 ATELEA FILO
10 EZKIEL FAGA-LETI
11 TE PAEROA WI NEERA
12 TE WAAKA POPATA-HENARE (V-C)
13 AUGUSTINO FILIPO (C)
14 TAIPARI WIKITERA
15 ANTONIO ULUGIA
16 PAULA LU’UA
17 KALEB NERU
20 TOBY GIBSON
21 FRANCIS TUIMAUGA
SANTANO PEKEPO-TEVAGA
LENNOX TUILOMA
ADAM LAWRENCE
ASHER NORMAN TE POU
Trainers | Ben Collins, Tyler Sullivan
Physio | Dave Lalor
Managers | Athens Henare, Ryan James
Assistant manager | Sio Kali
PASIFIKA AOTEAROA COLLECTIVE U-18
1 DIESEL FOLAU
2 SIONE LISALA
3 CAELIS SAMUEL
4 JUNIOR SIKUVEA (v-c)
5 JOVILISI SLOAN
6 RYS MANU
7 IOSIA TULI
8 ATAPANA SU'A
9 DAVID KAMA
10 BERNARD NGUNGUTAU
11 LYRAKAI-LAYKE POSIMANI (c)
14 ROB AH CHONG
24 JEREMIAH CULLEN
16 MALAKAI CAMA
18 JOEY UPOKO
17 KANAAN MAGELE
13 EMOSI RAVOSAI
21 PETER KENGIKE
20 CHRISTIAN FAAFOI
15 NOAH HETUTU-DAVIS
Coach | Sitiveni Hatch
Assistant coach | Byers McEwan
Manager | Cindy Petero
Trainer | Joshua Siaosi
