Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary today named a 20-man squad to prepare for Sunday’s final home match of the NRL season against Manly at Mt Smart Stadium.
The same starting line-up originally chosen for last weekend’s encounter with Canberra has been retained.
First-choice fullback Wade McKinnon has again been listed with Cleary expecting the 26-year-old to make his reappearance after being a late withdrawal with an ankle injury for the side’s last two outings against Gold Coast and Canberra.
While also retaining Wairangi Koopu, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki and George Gatis in the squad, Cleary has added three players to the mix.
Utility Lance Hohaia, back rower Louis Anderson and Todd Byrne, McKinnon’s replacement in the last two games, have been brought in with the Vodafone Auckland Lions having a bye in the New South Wales Premier League this week.
“We’ve had players who have gone really well in premier league lately and they deserve the chance to compete for spots for this week’s game,” said Cleary.
Two players are in line to reach career milestones on Sunday.
Koopu (27), who made his debut in 1999, is set to play his 150th NRL match for the club. Only Stacey Jones, Awen Guttenbeil and Logan Swann have topped that mark so far.
And Lauaki (23) eyes his 50th first-grade match after starting his career against Brisbane in 2004.
Loose forward Michael Luck, who will play his 47th consecutive match since joining the club, last weekend became the first player to break through the 800 tackles barrier for the NRL season. He made a game-high 31 tackles against the Raiders, lifting his season’s tally to 806.
Captain Steve Price could go through another major barrier on Sunday. Averaging close to 203 metres a game, he needs to carry the ball 151 metres to reach 4000 for the season. He gained “only” 158 metres against Canberra, the first time in nine games that he hadn’t clocked up 200 metres or more.
Earlier this season, Manly beat the Vodafone Warriors 13-10 at Brookvale Oval. This Sunday’s game will be the 13th between the two sides, the Sea Eagles having a seven wins-five losses edge in the first 12 encounters.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
2.00pm, Sunday, August 26
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1
WADE McKINNON
2
MICHAEL CROCKETT
3
JEROME ROPATI
4
SIMON MANNERING
5
MANU VATUVEI
6
MICHAEL WITT
7
GRANT ROVELLI
8
SAM RAPIRA
9
NATHAN FIEN
10
STEVE PRICE (c)
11
RUBEN WIKI (vc)
12
LOGAN SWANN
13
MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange (three to be omitted):
LOUIS ANDERSON
TODD BYRNE
GEORGE GATIS
LANCE HOHAIA
WAIRANGI KOOPU
EPALAHAME LAUAKI
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
