Team List Jnr warriors vs Panthers

[BHP]

Quartet back for Vodafone Junior Warriors
Richard Becht

Wednesday 15 August 2012 2:47 PM



Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland has brought back four of his first-choice players for the side’s key 24th-round NYC clash against Penrith at Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday (11.45am kick-off local time).
Prop Ligi Sao, loose forward David Bhana, fullback Omar Slaimankhel and winger Viliami Lolohea are all named for a match the defending NYC premiers must win to stay in the hunt for a second successive minor premiership success.

All four missed the heart-breaking 28-32 loss to North Queensland last Saturday night, a result which saw the Vodafone Junior Warriors finish the round in third spot on the ladder after leading in recent weeks. Also named on a five-man bench is big prop Atu Tupou, who is returning after being side-lined with a knee injury which forced him off the field in his debut against Canberra in early April.
While the Vodafone Junior Warriors have had back-to-back losses, they’re still right in the battle to win the minor premiership, having captured it for the first time last year en route to their second consecutive premiership triumph.

They’re just a point behind Canberra (34 points), level with second-placed Canterbury-Bankstown with Wests Tigers fourth on 32, Penrith fifth on 31 and the Sydney Roosters sixth on 30.
The top three sides all have challenging encounters this weekend. Apart from the Mount Smart Stadium battle, Canberra is at home to the Roosters and the Bulldogs host the Tigers.
In the 25th round, the Vodafone Junior Warriors are away to St George Illawarra and Canberra is at home to Canterbury-Bankstown. The draw sets up the possibility of the Vodafone Junior Warriors and the Raiders playing for the minor premiership in Auckland on September 2.

For now, though, Ackland and his players are focused on recovering from their 10-40 loss to Cronulla and the setback against the Cowboys. The defeat by Cronulla was the heaviest NYC loss the club has had at home in the competition’s five-year history, only the second at home in more than two years and just the 10th overall at Mount Smart Stadium.

Ackland took heart from the team’s display in Townsville with so many experienced players out of the side, including Carlos Tuimavave playing for the NRL side. A difficult assignment in Townsville was made all the more difficult when the side had to contend with a 6-0 second half penalty count in the home side’s favour.

Centre Ngani Laumape maintained his prolific strike rate with a hat-trick boosting his tally to 15 tries in 15 appearances while 17-year-old David Fusitua, moved from the wing to fullback, picked up the players’ player of the day award after making 168 metres from 14 runs and also coming up with three tackle breaks and a line break. The other big ground gainer was again stand-in winger Toka Likiliki with 122 metres from 12 runs.
In his first game back from a long lay-off with a serious ankle injury, Sio Siua Taukeiaho made 81 metres from 10 runs and added 18 tackles and five tackle breaks. He teams up this weekend in a potent back row combination which also includes captain John Palavi and impressive rookie David Bhana.

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v PENRITH PANTHERS
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
11.45am, Sunday, August 19

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS
1 OMAR SLAIMANKHEL
2 DAVID FUSITUA
3 NGANI LAUMAPE
4 NGATAUA HUKATAI
5 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
6 PETA HIKU
7 MASON LINO
8 LIGI SAO
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 NATHANIEL PETERU
11 JOHN PALAVI (c)
12 SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
13 DAVID BHANA
Interchange:
14 TRENT BISHOP
15 TOKA LIKILIKI
16 SIULONGOUA FOTOFILI
17 ALBERT VETE
18 ATU TUPOU
COACH: JOHN ACKLAND

https://www.warriors.co.nz/news-display/Quartet-back-for-Vodafone-Junior-Warriors/61748

 

[facefacts]

I'll be interested to see if Hiku has the kicking and ball playing skills of a 5/8, or whether he's just there to run good lines and offer a bit more support play around the middle.

 

[BHP]

I'll be interested to see if Hiku has the kicking and ball playing skills of a 5/8, or whether he's just there to run good lines and offer a bit more support play around the middle.

What I have seen of him in the u20s and in the fox, I would say he has better ball playing and kicking skills then omar, but He is a much better fullback then a 5/8. They should chuck David Bhana at 6 for his kicking skills, haha.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Strong looking team. So very glad to see Toka back on the bench...

 

[facefacts]

What I have seen of him in the u20s and in the fox, I would say he has better ball playing and kicking skills then omar, but He is a much better fullback then a 5/8. They should chuck David Bhana at 6 for his kicking skills, haha.

Hiku is obviously a safe and hard working fullback, but for me he lacks that explosive pace that the good fullbacks all have these days... he does look like a future Nightingale style winger, not a devastating attacking player but one you'd bet your house on, and who's name you'd write down without thinking on the team sheet....in 3-4 years that is.

 

[slaughterhouse.sa]

Hiku is obviously a safe and hard working fullback, but for me he lacks that explosive pace that the good fullbacks all have these days... he does look like a future Nightingale style winger, not a devastating attacking player but one you'd bet your house on, and who's name you'd write down without thinking on the team sheet....in 3-4 years that is.

Agreed, but has he has outplayed Omar this year as well as looking faster than omar.
He is a more natural footy player with a great work ethic.

3-4 years. mate he just signed a fg contract with Manly.
So it wont be here ....unfortunately warriors will have get used to Tupou & Vatuvei

They should leave hiku at fullback...drop omar and promote an actual halve back.
Seriously it was bad enough having adam henry as a winger playing standoff, then having omar was laughable.

Hiku has played standoff and is a good fillin.
However there are talented havles out there that could fillin and develop our base for future years.

Sam cook -Northcote
Brandon Motion - Mt Albert
Eko Malu - Mangere East.

Malu is halfback, clearly they dont have him in the 6 or 7 and he is average in the 9 jersey.

 

[slaughterhouse.sa]

Strong looking team. So very glad to see Toka back on the bench...

I personally hope they lose again.
It will be beneficial for them in the longrun.

I think it is quite topical atm, with all this talk where have the warriors gone wrong.

I usually like Sam Ackerman but thought he had a weak answer for the following question.
When asked why do the warriors place priority on winning the 20s over the development of players.

So many fans asking for carlos to be returned to help the 20s lol.
Yet he was one of the best last week.

 

[ToiletDuck]

I usually like Sam Ackerman but thought he had a weak answer for the following question.
When asked why do the warriors place priority on winning the 20s over the development of players.

Haha that was my question...

I too didn't think the answer was really good enough, is the comp prestigious (in his words) from our club's perspective because we have the best record, or is it actually a prestigious competition? I think it's good to have a decent record to attract youngsters, but I don't think there's any merit in winning 10 NYC titles while your NRL side hasn't yet won a premiership.

 

[facefacts]

Agreed, but has he has outplayed Omar this year as well as looking faster than omar.
He is a more natural footy player with a great work ethic.

3-4 years. mate he just signed a fg contract with Manly.
So it wont be here ....unfortunately warriors will have get used to Tupou & Vatuvei

They should leave hiku at fullback...drop omar and promote an actual halve back.
Seriously it was bad enough having adam henry as a winger playing standoff, then having omar was laughable.

Hiku has played standoff and is a good fillin.
However there are talented havles out there that could fillin and develop our base for future years.

Sam cook -Northcote
Brandon Motion - Mt Albert
Eko Malu - Mangere East.

Malu is halfback, clearly they dont have him in the 6 or 7 and he is average in the 9 jersey.

Yeah, i was never a fan of Omar at fullback, he always looked slow to me, and just to lax on defense or when the hard yards needed to be made....he's never looked anything other than a center in my opinion.

 

[BHP]

Hiku has played standoff and is a good fillin.
However there are talented havles out there that could fillin and develop our base for future years.

Sam cook -Northcote
Brandon Motion - Mt Albert
Eko Malu - Mangere East.

Malu is halfback, clearly they dont have him in the 6 or 7 and he is average in the 9 jersey.

I definitely think they should have signed up Sam Cook for this game; even though I dont think he has trained with the squad he would still be a better option at 6

 

[slaughterhouse.sa]

I definitely think they should have signed up Sam Cook for this game; even though I dont think he has trained with the squad he would still be a better option at 6

Yeah, but clearly your a northcote supporter lol.

I wouldnt sign him for one game, that would be ridiculous.
Definately worth a trial for the off-season. Which i am sure he will get.
Probably already training with the dev. squad.

Brandon Motion would also be good, he has played for mt albert this year.
A good footballer.

 

[Defence]

Why don't they play meads?

 

[Sexymonkey]

Why don't they play meads?

i hear is off to france

 

[Defence]

i hear is off to france

But half the team won't be here next year- either too old or off to another club. Sao and hiku are still playing. I think the side would be stronger with meads there.

 

[fanrrior]

I don't like how big the team is. It isn't preparing them for the NRL. In fact it's a better preparation for their opponents.

The Warriors, I feel, are relying on their size, or natural attributes more than an actual structure.

 

[mt.wellington]

Haha that was my question...

I too didn't think the answer was really good enough, is the comp prestigious (in his words) from our club's perspective because we have the best record, or is it actually a prestigious competition? I think it's good to have a decent record to attract youngsters, but I don't think there's any merit in winning 10 NYC titles while your NRL side hasn't yet won a premiership.

Yeah congrats on that TD for getting both your questions on. That Kris on the video link wasnt you too was it? Got my question about the 'development' going a little too far on the show as well but he only stated the obvious. Great show and good to see a real fan in the media and not an All Black loiving part time Warriors fan fronting the show. Should do it in 2 halves so he can have a drink and catch his breath I reckon lol...

 

[mt.wellington]

I don't like how big the team is. It isn't preparing them for the NRL. In fact it's a better preparation for their opponents.

They are relying on their size, or natural attributes more than an actual structure.

Not really about development of players but more about just taking out the competition I reckon. Why else do you play future second row or prop built players out on the wing hahaha??? For real development look at the Broncos team. Most of them are around the 18 mark while most their 19-20 year old play in one of their 3 Queensland cup affiliated teams.

 

[charlie bobmarley]

OMG, Omar actually is passing the ball & we scoring tries from it.
Like most of his ilk, he needs to realise that that the most economical route is also the quickest way to reach your destination.

 

[fanrrior]

I like how when that number 16 for the Panthers dropped the ball, he threw it at the ground in disgust.

I wish our players had that sort of attitude.

 

[ToiletDuck]

Yeah congrats on that TD for getting both your questions on. That Kris on the video link wasnt you too was it? Got my question about the 'development' going a little too far on the show as well but he only stated the obvious. Great show and good to see a real fan in the media and not an All Black loiving part time Warriors fan fronting the show. Should do it in 2 halves so he can have a drink and catch his breath I reckon lol...

Nah mate, I wasn't the 'Kris (or Chris)' in the video, haha that would have been total domination if it was though...