Pita Godinet and Glen Fisiiahi have been included in a 19-man squad for the Vodafone Warriors eighth-round NRL match against the Storm at AAMI Park in Melbourne on Anzac Day (Wednesday).
Head coach Brian McClennan said the pair had been added as cover for Kiwi internationals Manu Vatuvei and halfback Shaun Johnson.
Vatuvei and Johnson, both feeling the effects of Friday nights 12-20 Anzac Test loss to Australia, didnt train with the Vodafone Warriors yesterday but have both been named to start in the traditional Anzac Day match against Melbourne.
Brought back into the team travelling to Melbourne later this afternoon is fullback Kevin Locke, who has recovered from the leg injury which kept him out of the Vodafone Warriors last three matches against the Sydney Roosters, Canberra and South Sydney. He replaces Jerome Ropati, who is out of contention for the Michael Moore Trophy duel after being forced off the field with a hamstring injury 47 minutes into the 44-22 victory against South Sydney on April 15.
Were hoping Manu and Shaun will be right to play on Wednesday night but were taking Glen and Pita as cover, said McClennan.
Jerome was great for us against the Rabbitohs but his hamstring isnt quite right. At the same time, Kevin is now recovered so he comes back in.
Ben Henry, the players player of the day against the Rabbitohs, and Krisnan Inu are both named to start in the centres again. Wednesdays match will be Inus 99th NRL appearance giving him the chance of playing his 100th in the Vodafone Warriors home match against the Brisbane Broncos on May 5 (match day sponsor: Lion Red).
McClennan has named the same starting forward pack initially chosen for the South Sydney match although he subsequently made two swaps with Russell Packer starting in the front row instead of Sione Lousi and Lewis Brown coming in for Feleti Mateo. Mateo backs up on Wednesday night after turning out for City Origin in Mudgee yesterday; captain Simon Mannering and prop Ben Matulino will also be back on deck after fronting for the Kiwis last Friday night.
The Vodafone Warriors had the distinction of beating Melbourne in the two meetings between the sides at AAMI Park last year, first the Anzac Day match and then the preliminary final which put the club into the NRL grand final for only the second time. However, Melbourne won the other regular season match-up at Mount Smart Stadium.
While Inu is nearing his 100-game milestone, bench forward Ukuma Taai is closing in on his 50th appearance, playing his 48th first-grade match on Wednesday night.
With his 12 points against South Sydney, James Maloney has now scored 450 for the Vodafone Warriors, moving ahead of Ivan Cleary (439) on the clubs list of highest points-scorers. Only Stacey Jones (674) has scored more.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
AAMI Park, Melbourne
7.00pm, Wednesday, April 25
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 KEVIN LOCKE
2 BILL TUPOU
3 BEN HENRY
4 KRISNAN INU
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 JAMES MALONEY
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 SIONE LOUSI
9 NATHAN FRIEND
10 BEN MATULINO
11 FELETI MATEO
12 SIMON MANNERING (c)
13 ELIJAH TAYLOR
Interchange:
14 RUSSELL PACKER
15 UKUMA TAAI
16 LEWIS BROWN
17 SAM RAPIRA
18 PITA GODINET
20 GLEN FISIIAHI
COACH: BRIAN McCLENNAN
