Trial v Titans @ Palmy, 19th Feb 2pm

[Penrose Warrior]

http://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2017/02/14/experience_boost_for.html

Seasoned Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman and Issac Luke have all been named for the Vodafone Warriors’ second and final NRL trial – the ‘Summer Smash’ – against the Gold Coast Titans at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North on Sunday (2.00pm kick-off).

The three players weren’t used in either the Downer NRL Auckland Nines or last Saturday’s first preseason hit-out against the Melbourne Storm on the Sunshine Coast.

Boasting almost 700 NRL appearances between them they will provide a significant boost to the starting pack this weekend.

The 286-game Ryan Hoffman was the only vastly experienced forward fielded against the Storm; he was among six players taken off at halftime when the Vodafone Warriors led 18-6 before going on to lose 18-30.

Lillyman and Luke start alongside prop Sam Lisone, who played in the Nines and also represented the club in the NRL All Stars in Newcastle last Friday night. Hoffman and Bunty Afoa are again the starting second rowers with Mannering at loose forward.

The only change to the backline used against the Storm is at standoff where Ata Hingano is paired with halfback Shaun Johnson. Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has his second run after a successful return in the first half last week.

“It’s a real boost for us to be able to have those experienced lads in the forwards,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney.

“We know the Titans will bring plenty in what is a vital hit-out for us ahead of the season.

“There were some really good signs against Melbourne but we need to show further improvement this Sunday.”

The bench includes Albert Vete, James Gavet, Wellingtonian Charlie Gubb and Blake Ayshford

The last time the Vodafone Warriors played a match in Manawatu was a trial against Central Districts at Palmerston North Showgrounds on the original Auckland Warriors’ national tour before their debut in the competition in 1995.

The Vodafone Warriors’ advance party arrives in the city tomorrow for a schedule of NRL Community Carnival appearances and activities on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

NRL squad members Ligi Sao and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad will join the club’s Harvey Norman Community Warriors ambassadors Jerome Ropati and Georgia Hale visiting 12 local schools to introduce them to the ACC Everyday Athlete and Konica Minolta League in Libraries programmes as well as the KidsCan ‘Raincoats for Kids’ initiative.

There’ll be a signing session at Harvey Norman’s store in 339 Main Street West in Palmerston North at 5.30pm tomorrow.

The Vodafone Warriors, who arrive in Palmerston North on Friday, will hold an open training session at Central Energy Trust Arena at 11.00am on Saturday. It’s followed by a signing session at the Keen Kiwi Rugby League Festival at 1.00pm.


VODAFONE WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS

Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North

2.00pm, Sunday, February 19, 2017



VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)

2 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA

3 DAVID FUSITUA

4 SOLOMONE KATA

5 KEN MAUMALO

6 ATA HINGANO

7 SHAUN JOHNSON

8 SAM LISONE

26 ISSAC LUKE

16 JACOB LILLYMAN

15 BUNTY AFOA

12 RYAN HOFFMAN

13 SIMON MANNERING (v-c)

Interchange:

32 ALBERT VETE

22 JAMES GAVET

11 BLAKE AYSHFORD

17 JUNIOR PAUGA

18 JAMES BELL

20 CHARLIE GUBB

28 MASON LINO

21 ISAIAH PAPALII

25 ERIN CLARK

HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY

 

[Penrose Warrior]

My initial thoughts are I'm disappointed to not see Sipley there, which I hope doesn't rule him out for round 1. Didn't someone say he was looking ripped and ready at the 9s? Still really worried about a prop rotation of Lisone/Lillyman/Vete and potentially Gubb or Gavet.

Bodene injured, not expected for round 1?

Looks like the backline has taken shape for rd1 too (with Manu for Ken, I presume).

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Still a good team

 

[Fufu Andronez]

decent team, forward pack looks very un-assuming when you take Matulino's name out of it

 

[Cold Roses]

My initial thoughts are I'm disappointed to not see Sipley there, which I hope doesn't rule him out for round 1. Didn't someone say he was looking ripped and ready at the 9s?

He definitely looked like he's lost a lot of extra weight and could fill out in the next few years. Didn't get a huge amount of game time in the nines or trial, but if he's used right, could do some damage for us. I see a last 10 minutes of the first half, first 10-15 minutes of the second half interchange role being the best way to use him starting the season off.

 

[Cold Roses]

decent team, forward pack looks very un-assuming when you take Matulino's name out of it

I like the fact that Afoa is getting game time. He could really develop for us over the next couple of years.

 

[TheDMC]

Is the game being televised? If so where and how can I watch for free from abroad!!

 

[Fufu Andronez]

A bit concerning that Manu and Bodene haven't played any pre-season matches leading into the season. 2 pretty important players to our cause, especially Manu.

Hope it isn't another stop-start year for him where he is one week out for the next 2. We need continuity in the team and having a fit Manu outside a Johnson-Foran halves combination would be a god-send and probably a 20+try haul for the big man.

 

[Rich102]

Is the game being televised? If so where and how can I watch for free from abroad!!

Only on sky in NZ.
If I find a stream I will post it.
Sky Sport 2. 2pm Sunday.

 

[TheDMC]

Only on sky in NZ.
If I find a stream I will post it.
Sky Sport 2. 2pm Sunday.

Thanks mate

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Konnies not playing. Tyronne Roberts-Davis who looked okish in the nines is on the bench and he's related to Tyronne Roberts whos at the back for them this Sunday with Elgey coming in at halfback for the Titans.

 

[Rich102]

Don't know if this is any good to you DMC. Only one I could find:
Live on fox 2HD ch502 Sunday 12 noon!

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Excellent
12pm kick off for us in Oz

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Good crowd for a preseason hit out.

Nice 100 metre opening set from Titans and repeat set kick at the end.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Roger is carving up.. set up all 3 tries so far

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Some observational moments in first half.
Vete keen to offload. But good Meters when hitting line and then trying for quick play
Gibbs hands let him down, both times under pressure tho.
SJ had good vision and placement with his kicks, 1 bad end to a set, he is still running out of defensive line leading to the titans try.
Mannering is a great tackler, when he retires he needs to be involved with coaching how to tackle!
Fus looked strong.
Bunty keen.
Good to see tries not involving SJ.
RTS looking extremely confident and keen to be involved.
Tui's forward pass could of been missed if he ran forward with the pass rather than backwards.
Mamo was looking around and wanted someone to tackle him on his break.
Hingaro, nothing flash, defending could be issue, but partnered with Mannering by look of it.

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Pretty much what Phil said...

Hinganos defence has concerned me from last year, it'll come right though.

Bunty or Iulio Afoa played strongly particularly early in the game. Vete as well. Mannering doing his usual.

RTS was clearly the best back. SJ had a good kicking game and so did Hingano. Fusitua played strongly, probably my second pick of the backs but it was RTS that showed the goods today. Maumalo showed strong moments as well.

 

[Fufu Andronez]

Wanna put in my thoughts while they are still fresh.

RTS - was in everything, played 80 mins looked dangerous on every run, defused bombs, set up tries. Looks primed for a massive year

Lolohea - solid, nothing flash did his job and finished a good try

Fusitua - looks massive, with very little body fat. Was busting through the line on almost every run

Kata - disappointing, few errors and some lapses in D

Maumalo - looked good for me, liked his runs out of our own end, made a few breaks and busted tackles pretty regularly

Johnson - controlled the game and good in D, didn't need to pull out any big plays just did his thing

Vete - great game, good offloads and good metres

Afoa - another standout, post contact metres were huge


Clark - pretty impressive, will be neck and neck with him and Tevaga for the bench spot

Cappy - interesting to see him running around with the blue Jersey and a water bottle on field

Pretty good game, but it's a trial so not sure how to take it.

Aldo interesting to see Johnson and RTS play the full 80

 

[JJ]

Looking forward to RTS all year, he's worth the admission price alone

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Second half.
Lisone kick earnt repeat set!! NO now he thinks he can do all the time!!!!
Luke's offload at line silly mistake when he had looked to be having a solid game, he looks to be carrying less weight.
RTS riding Lisone hip for offload was nice to see.
Good recovery on the titans break, SJ tackle impressed crowd, tui did well to cover RTS.
RTS drawing attention from inside and outside defender creating opportunities.
Kata drop off back of scrum was both a ball passed end over end and bad hands. His second he should of caught but overshot it.
Vete looked a bit like Wiki with his hitupa.
Great tackle from Fusatu on a bomb.
Clark can pass well left but not right.
We kept SJ and RTS for full 80mins.
Titans down on troops, lost Peats early, no Hayne.
Nice for Mannering to score a try.

Forgot to mention Hoff has lost his beard!