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For the third week running, the Vodafone Warriors will use the same line-up when they take on the Sydney Roosters in their sudden-death NRL play-off at Mt Smart Stadium on Friday night.
The second home finals match in successive seasons the 11th play-off in the clubs history will also be a landmark occasion for loose forward Micheal Luck.
His 74th appearance for the club will be the 150th of his career overall and hes set to mark it by regaining the spot he temporarily lost as the NRLs leading tackler of the year.
With 35 tackles in the pulsating 18-15 win over defending premier Melbourne, Luck took his total to 901 sitting only eight behind Parramattas Nathan Hindmarsh, whose season is now over.
Also in line to achieve another milestone in an injury-disrupted but outstanding season is giant winger Manu Vatuvei, now having his first taste of finals football.
With his try against the Storm, he maintained his rate of a try a game this year 15 from 15 games and drew level with foundation winger Sean Hoppe on the Vodafone Warriors all-time list with 44 tries in 73 games (Hoppe played 88 games to reach the total).
Having scored six tries in his last three games, Vatuvei (22) can take outright fourth place with a try on Friday night, leaving him behind only Stacey Jones (75 tries in 238 games), Francis Meli (60 in 110) and Clinton Toopi (57 in 129).
With his match-winning try and three goals against the Storm, Micheal Witt took his career points tally through the 600-point barrier (601).
When the Vodafone Warriors and the Sydney Roosters met in the regular season, the Roosters triumphed 38-12 at Mt Smart Stadium in May, a match which coincided with captain Steve Prices return from a long injury lay-off. The Vodafone Warriors have won 11 of 16 matches since then.
While they achieved history last Sunday in becoming the first eighth-ranked side to beat the minor premiers in the final series, the fourth-ranked Roosters lost 16-24 to Brisbane last Friday night.
Our match was a really tough one and so was the Roosters game against Brisbane. They were quality finals matches, said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
Its a challenge for us with our turnaround much shorter after playing just two days ago. Were also coming up against yet another side that has so many threats.
They gave us a touch-up earlier in the season. We saw just how good they were that day and we know well have to bring our best game out if were to keep our season going.
After travelling home from Melbourne yesterday, the Vodafone Warriors started their preparation for Friday nights game today. Tonight the players and football staff will attend the clubs annual awards dinner at the Sky City Convention Centre.
The second home finals match in successive seasons the 11th play-off in the clubs history will also be a landmark occasion for loose forward Micheal Luck.
His 74th appearance for the club will be the 150th of his career overall and hes set to mark it by regaining the spot he temporarily lost as the NRLs leading tackler of the year.
With 35 tackles in the pulsating 18-15 win over defending premier Melbourne, Luck took his total to 901 sitting only eight behind Parramattas Nathan Hindmarsh, whose season is now over.
Also in line to achieve another milestone in an injury-disrupted but outstanding season is giant winger Manu Vatuvei, now having his first taste of finals football.
With his try against the Storm, he maintained his rate of a try a game this year 15 from 15 games and drew level with foundation winger Sean Hoppe on the Vodafone Warriors all-time list with 44 tries in 73 games (Hoppe played 88 games to reach the total).
Having scored six tries in his last three games, Vatuvei (22) can take outright fourth place with a try on Friday night, leaving him behind only Stacey Jones (75 tries in 238 games), Francis Meli (60 in 110) and Clinton Toopi (57 in 129).
With his match-winning try and three goals against the Storm, Micheal Witt took his career points tally through the 600-point barrier (601).
When the Vodafone Warriors and the Sydney Roosters met in the regular season, the Roosters triumphed 38-12 at Mt Smart Stadium in May, a match which coincided with captain Steve Prices return from a long injury lay-off. The Vodafone Warriors have won 11 of 16 matches since then.
While they achieved history last Sunday in becoming the first eighth-ranked side to beat the minor premiers in the final series, the fourth-ranked Roosters lost 16-24 to Brisbane last Friday night.
Our match was a really tough one and so was the Roosters game against Brisbane. They were quality finals matches, said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
Its a challenge for us with our turnaround much shorter after playing just two days ago. Were also coming up against yet another side that has so many threats.
They gave us a touch-up earlier in the season. We saw just how good they were that day and we know well have to bring our best game out if were to keep our season going.
After travelling home from Melbourne yesterday, the Vodafone Warriors started their preparation for Friday nights game today. Tonight the players and football staff will attend the clubs annual awards dinner at the Sky City Convention Centre.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.30pm, Friday, September 19
Referee: Tony Archer
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1
LANCE HOHAIA
2
AIDAN KIRK
3
BRENT TATE
4
JEROME ROPATI
5
MANU VATUVEI
6
MICHAEL WITT
7
NATHAN FIEN
8
RUBEN WIKI
9
IAN HENDERSON
10
STEVE PRICE (c)
11
SIMON MANNERING
12
BEN MATULINO
13
MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14
GRANT ROVELLI
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
SAM RAPIRA
17
LOGAN SWANN
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
http://warriors.sitesuite.ws/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=24927
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.30pm, Friday, September 19
Referee: Tony Archer
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1
LANCE HOHAIA
2
AIDAN KIRK
3
BRENT TATE
4
JEROME ROPATI
5
MANU VATUVEI
6
MICHAEL WITT
7
NATHAN FIEN
8
RUBEN WIKI
9
IAN HENDERSON
10
STEVE PRICE (c)
11
SIMON MANNERING
12
BEN MATULINO
13
MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14
GRANT ROVELLI
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
SAM RAPIRA
17
LOGAN SWANN
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
http://warriors.sitesuite.ws/plugins/newsfeed.cgi?rm=content&plugin_data_id=24927
