Tuimavave scratched for clash against Raiders The Vodafone Junior Warriors will have to do without Carlos Tuimavave for today’s sixth-round NYC clash against the Raiders in Canberra.
Tuimavave, one of the side’s most experienced players, had been named to return from a one-week lay-off with a groin complaint but will instead sit out this game as well.
His role will again be filled by 18-year-old Mason Lino while coach John Ackland has confirmed NYC debuts for two more players – hooker Jethro Friend and prop Atu Tupou, who are both included on the interchange bench. Friend, a Manurewa High School product and Manurewa Marlins junior, is the son of legendary 1982-1991 Kiwi halfback Clayton Friend. St Paul’s College-educated Tupou, a Mangere East Hawks junior, was included in the Auckland Vulcans’ squad for their New South Wales Cup encounter with Newtown last week.
Ackland has tweaked his starting line-up in two places. Ligi Sao, originally named to start in the second row, goes back to the front row with Toka Likiliki moving to the bench and Chris Ofanoa coming into the second row.
While Tuimavave will be absent, prolific try-scoring fullback Omar Slaimankhel (40 matches) is back after missing two matches with a knee injury. Also back from injury is winger Viliami Lolohea.
The Vodafone Junior Warriors have lost leading prop Donald Tony long-term with a knee injury and winger Ngataua Hukatai (concussion) plus newcomers centre Braxton Stanley and Albert Vete, who have been suspended on contrary conduct charges arising from a fracas in the clash against the Roosters. Stanley will miss two games after taking an early guilty plea on a grade three offence while Vete is out for a game after pleading guilty on a grade two charge. Siulongoua Fotofili was also charged for his involvement in the melee but is free to play after taking an early guilty plea on a grade one offence.
With Stanley out, Ackland has moved second rower Sione Feao to the centres while Hukatai’s absence has resulted in
Peta Hiku, fullback for the last two matches and the players’ player of the day last week, going to the left wing.
This will be only the second time the Vodafone Junior Warriors have played at Canberra Stadium. They lost there 28-42 in 2009 when their line-up included Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Elijah
Taylor (at standoff),
Shaun Johnson, Ben Henry, Alehana Mara and Sebastine Ikahihifo, all in the Vodafone Warriors’ 2012 NRL squad.
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Canberra Stadium, Canberra
11.45am, Sunday, April 08
Referee: Michael Laverty
VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 OMAR SLAIMANKHEL
2 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3 SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
4 SIONE FEAO
5
PETA HIKU 21 MASON LINO
7 JORDAN MEADS
11 LIGI SAO
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 SIULONGOUA FOTOFILI
15 CHRIS OFANOA
12 JOHN PALAVI (c)
13 DAVID BHANA
Interchange:
8 TOKA LIKILIKI
14 JETHRO FRIEND
16 ATU TUPOU
17 ADAM TUIMAVAVE-GERRARD
COACH: JOHN ACKLAND
https://www.warriors.co.nz/default....tuimavave-scratched-for-clash-against-raiders 
