Why sign Inu? Good luck to Glen, he deserves a go after putting 100% into every trial he played it.
It's a good team..
http://www.warriors.co.nz/news/832/Fisiiahi-to-debut-in-Battle-of-Eden
Fisiiahi to debut in 'Battle of Eden'
Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has handed 20-year-old Glen Fisiiahi his NRL debut in Saturday night’s historic ‘Battle of Eden’ against the Parramatta Eels at Eden Park.
Joining Fisiiahi in their first appearances for their new club will be experienced new signings Feleti Mateo and Shaun Berrigan, Mateo named in the second row against his former team-mates and ex-Brisbane utility Berrigan picked on the interchange bench.
Cleary’s first side of the year was revealed as the Vodafone Warriors launched their 2011 campaign at a gala breakfast event at SKYCITY this morning, just four days out from the first NRL match ever played at Eden Park and the first home game the Vodafone Warriors have played away from Mount Smart Stadium since the club came into existence in 1995.
The guest list of 450 included sponsors, Vodafone Warriors members, media representatives, former Vodafone Warriors, the club’s 2011 NRL and NYC squads, football staff and management.
The selection of the right winger was one of the most hotly-contested. Fisiiahi, new signing Krisnan Inu, Kevin Locke and Bill Tupou were all in contention throughout last month’s programme of four trials with Fisiiahi ultimately rewarded for his form just months after excelling for the Vodafone Junior Warriors as they won the 2010 NYC grand final to clinch the club’s first premiership.
Playing at fullback, speedster Fisiiahi scored 20 tries in 26 games for the side and went on to play for the Junior Kiwis in their two-match series against the Junior Kangaroos. He featured in all four NRL trials, scoring a double in his first two outings against Newcastle and Parramatta followed by a fifth try against Burleigh.
From a well-known Auckland rugby league family, Fisiiahi hadn’t expected his NRL debut to come so soon.
“The last few months have been unbelievable, winning the NYC premiership with the Vodafone Junior Warriors, playing for the Junior Kiwis and then joining the NRL squad for the off-season,” he said.
“It’s been amazing training with all the top players we have at the club and playing with them in the trials.
“And now I’ve been given the chance to play my first NRL match already. I didn’t expect this just yet but I’m so excited and looking forward to running out onto Eden Park on Saturday night.”
Cleary is equally excited.
“There was certainly plenty of competition for the right wing, as there was for positions right across the park,” he said.
“But Glen deserves this chance for this game. So far he has done everything we have expected of him.”
Fisiiahi will become Vodafone Warrior No 163, Mateo No 164 and Berrigan No 165. Apart from the trio, the make-up of the side to take on the Eels is familiar with most of 2010’s regulars back in the frame.
Among them is prop Jacob Lillyman, who celebrated his 27th birthday and will play his 99th NRL match on a night when highly-successful Kiwi coach and former Vodafone Warrior Stephen Kearney will have his first outing as an NRL head coach since being signed by the Eels.
Vodafone Warriors vice-captain Micheal Luck starts his sixth season with the club just six games short of his 200th career appearance in the NRL while fullback Lance Hohaia is about to start his 10th campaign with the club, only the third player after Stacey Jones and Awen Guttenbeil to rack up 10 seasons with the Vodafone Warriors.
The Vodafone Warriors and Parramatta warmed up for Saturday night’s NRL season-opener with a trial in Rotorua on February 12, the Vodafone Warriors winning 24-4.
They’ll wear a new special edition strip for the ‘Battle of Eden’. Canterbury of New Zealand designed the eye-catching all-black and white kit, coming up with a jersey featuring a fern wrapped around the club’s logo. All sponsors’ logos on the uniform appear in white.
•Tickets for ‘The Battle of Eden’ can be bought now at
http://www.ticketek.co.nz/
•Prices range from $20 for adults in uncovered seats and also in a designated alcohol-free area to $45 for covered seats. Prices are $15 for children aged 2-16 in all areas while family passes (two adults and three children) are priced at $100 in the uncovered and alcohol-free areas and $120 for covered seating.
•For information about Vodafone Warriors memberships and corporate memberships go to
www.warriors.co.nz
VODAFONE WARRIORS v PARRAMATTA EELS
Eden Park, Auckland
7.30pm, Saturday, March 12
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 LANCE HOHAIA
2 GLEN FISIIAHI
3 JOEL MOON
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 JAMES MALONEY
7 BRETT SEYMOUR
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 AARON HEREMAIA
10 RUSSELL PACKER
11 SIMON MANNERING (c)
12 FELETI MATEO
13 MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14 SHAUN BERRIGAN
15 JACOB LILLYMAN
16 BEN MATULINO
17 LEWIS BROWN
18 STEVE RAPIRA
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
