RHYTHM AND STEALTH
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Captain Steve Prices return is the only line-up change for the Vodafone Warriors 12th-round NRL clash against the Cronulla Sharks at Toyota Park on Saturday night.
The 32-year-old Price makes his 18th State of Origin appearance for Queensland against New South Wales in tomorrow nights opening match of the 2006 series at Telstra Stadium.
Depending on how he comes through that encounter, hell be reunited alongside Ruben Wiki who, as stand-in captain in Prices absence, led the Vodafone Warriors to their second win of the year over 2005 premiers Wests Tigers last Saturday night.
Evarn Tuimavave, who impressed as Prices front row replacement, has been moved back to his regular interchange spot. Retained on a five-man bench is 19-year-old Sam Rapira after his promising first-grade debut against the Tigers.
We were obviously pleased with Saturday nights effort, said head coach Ivan Cleary.
It was encouraging to beat the premiers for the second time this year, especially in the way we showed so much improvement from our display against St George Illawarra the previous week.
Having said that, there are still areas of our game where we need to sharpen up. What we want most of all is greater consistency in our performances. We had 17 players all contributing against the Tigers and we need that every week.
Cleary said the quality of the display against Wests Tigers left no room for Clinton Toopi to return to the side. He was given time off last week but was back training with the first-grade squad yesterday and could turn out for the Tamaki Leopards in their Bartercard Cup match against the Central Falcons in Palmerston North on Saturday.
Simon Mannering has been good for us in the last two matches so Clinton will have to work his way back into the side, said Cleary.
He was also thrilled with young prop Rapira who made 21 tackles and eight hit-ups in his first 30 minutes as a first-grade player.
The Vodafone Warriors visit to Toyota Park will be memorable for centre Tony Martin. After signing a new one-year contract for 2007 yesterday, hell make his 100th first-grade appearance after starting his career with the Melbourne Storm in 1998. He played 69 times for the Storm and won a grand final winners ring with them in 1999; the match against Cronulla will be his 31st for the Vodafone Warriors since starting with them in 2004 after a three-year stint with the London Broncos in the English Super League.
Ben Cummins has been named to referee the Cronulla match while Bill Harrigan is the video referee.
BRENT WEBB
2
MANU VATUVEI
3
TONY MARTIN
4
SIMON MANNERING
5
MISI TAULAPAPA
6
JEROME ROPATI
7
GRANT ROVELLI
8
RUBEN WIKI (VC)
9
NATHAN FIEN
10
STEVE PRICE (C)
11
AWEN GUTTENBEIL
12
WAIRANGI KOOPU
13
SIONE FAUMUINA
14
GEORGE GATIS
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
LOUIS ANDERSON
17
MICHEAL LUCK
20
SAM RAPIRA
The 32-year-old Price makes his 18th State of Origin appearance for Queensland against New South Wales in tomorrow nights opening match of the 2006 series at Telstra Stadium.
Depending on how he comes through that encounter, hell be reunited alongside Ruben Wiki who, as stand-in captain in Prices absence, led the Vodafone Warriors to their second win of the year over 2005 premiers Wests Tigers last Saturday night.
Evarn Tuimavave, who impressed as Prices front row replacement, has been moved back to his regular interchange spot. Retained on a five-man bench is 19-year-old Sam Rapira after his promising first-grade debut against the Tigers.
We were obviously pleased with Saturday nights effort, said head coach Ivan Cleary.
It was encouraging to beat the premiers for the second time this year, especially in the way we showed so much improvement from our display against St George Illawarra the previous week.
Having said that, there are still areas of our game where we need to sharpen up. What we want most of all is greater consistency in our performances. We had 17 players all contributing against the Tigers and we need that every week.
Cleary said the quality of the display against Wests Tigers left no room for Clinton Toopi to return to the side. He was given time off last week but was back training with the first-grade squad yesterday and could turn out for the Tamaki Leopards in their Bartercard Cup match against the Central Falcons in Palmerston North on Saturday.
Simon Mannering has been good for us in the last two matches so Clinton will have to work his way back into the side, said Cleary.
He was also thrilled with young prop Rapira who made 21 tackles and eight hit-ups in his first 30 minutes as a first-grade player.
The Vodafone Warriors visit to Toyota Park will be memorable for centre Tony Martin. After signing a new one-year contract for 2007 yesterday, hell make his 100th first-grade appearance after starting his career with the Melbourne Storm in 1998. He played 69 times for the Storm and won a grand final winners ring with them in 1999; the match against Cronulla will be his 31st for the Vodafone Warriors since starting with them in 2004 after a three-year stint with the London Broncos in the English Super League.
Ben Cummins has been named to referee the Cronulla match while Bill Harrigan is the video referee.
VODAFONE WARRIORS V CRONULLA SHARKS
Toyota Park, Cronulla
7.30pm (AEST), Saturday, May 27, 2006
Referee: Ben Cummins
VODAFONE WARRIORS TEAM
1Toyota Park, Cronulla
7.30pm (AEST), Saturday, May 27, 2006
Referee: Ben Cummins
VODAFONE WARRIORS TEAM
BRENT WEBB
2
MANU VATUVEI
3
TONY MARTIN
4
SIMON MANNERING
5
MISI TAULAPAPA
6
JEROME ROPATI
7
GRANT ROVELLI
8
RUBEN WIKI (VC)
9
NATHAN FIEN
10
STEVE PRICE (C)
11
AWEN GUTTENBEIL
12
WAIRANGI KOOPU
13
SIONE FAUMUINA
14
GEORGE GATIS
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
LOUIS ANDERSON
17
MICHEAL LUCK
20
SAM RAPIRA
