Team List NRL 2015 - Round 21 Team vs the Sharks

[Paleaaesina2the20]

YOUR TEAM | v Cronulla Sharks
Tue 28th July, 04:15PM
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New halves and back row combinations are the features of the Vodafone Warriors’ reshaped line-up for their 21st-round NRL encounter with the Cronulla Sharks at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday (5.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: DEWALT; game day theme: Sir Peter Leitch Appreciation Day).

With halfback Shaun Johnson (ankle) sidelined for the season, head coach Andrew McFadden has today confirmed the versatile Tuimoala Lolohea in the halves, where he played the last 55 minutes of Saturday’s clash against Manly after Johnson left the field.

Lolohea (21) has already started at fullback, in the centres and on the wing so far this season.

McFadden has been forced to make changes in the back row with Bodene Thompson out with an ankle injury and Ryan Hoffman not yet recovered from his calf complaint picked up in the final State of Origin match earlier this month.

Captain Simon Mannering is moved from the loose forward’s role he’s filled this season to operate on the edge with Ben Matulino switching from prop to start in the second row, a position he filled several times last year. Taking over in the No 13 jersey is Sebastine Ikahihifo, who ran for 159 metres from 16 runs and made 32 tackles for club’s New South Wales Cup side against Manly on Saturday.

There are also three changes in the outsides backs with three of the club’s most powerful ball runners coming back into the line-up. Manu Vatuvei is named on the left wing after being sidelined since the June 27 win over Canberra with a shoulder injury, while Konrad Hurrell is back from suspension to line up in the centres and Ken Maumalo is recalled for his fifth NRL appearance on the right wing.

There are also changes on the bench with props Charlie Gubb and Sam Lisone joining Siliva Havili and Raymond Faitala-Mariner while Sione Lousi and Jonathan Wright have been named as well.

“Simon and Ben will give us loads of experience and aggression in the second row while Seb demanded selection after his efforts with the New South Wales Cup side,” said McFadden.

“Tui was a natural choice in the halves. He has trained there throughout the season when Shaun and Chad have missed training sessions.

“In Manu, Konrad and Ken we have three powerful runners back in the mix. We’ve really missed Manu’s carries out of defence over the last few weeks, Ken has just come off four tries in a match and we all know what Koni can do.

“With Charlie and Sam coming onto the bench we gain more aggression and energy, which we have been missing lately.

“The effort against Manly was really disappointing but it’s only two weeks ago that we had a great feeling in the team when we beat Melbourne. That’s what we have to find again.”

The Vodafone Warriors will have to find that formula against a Cronulla side which has won six of its last seven games to climb to sixth on the table on 24 points while the Vodafone Warriors are now eighth on 22 after losing their last two games.

The last 10 encounters between the two clubs have been split 5-5. The Vodafone Warriors have a 9-6 advantage in 15 matches played at Mount Smart Stadium while the Sharks are 18-16 ahead in 34 meetings overall.

This week the Vodafone Warriors will stage a doubleheader with the NYC contest against the Sharks kicking off at 2.40pm and the NRL match at 5.00pm.


VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 SAM TOMKINS
2 KEN MAUMALO
3 KONRAD HURRELL
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 CHAD TOWNSEND
7 TUIMOALA LOLOHEA
8 JACOB LILLYMAN
9 NATHAN FRIEND
10 ALBERT VETE
11 BEN MATULINO
12 SIMON MANNERING (c)
13 SEBASTINE IKAHIHIFO

14 SILIVA HAVILI
15 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
16 CHARLIE GUBB
17 SAM LISONE

18 SIONE LOUSI
21 JONATHAN WRIGHT

Sharks

1 Michael Gordon
2 Sosaia Feki
3 Gerard Beale
4 Ricky Leutele
5 Valentine Holmes
6 Jack Bird
7 Jeff Robson
8 Chris Heighington
9 Michael Ennis
10 Sam Tagataese
11 Anthony Tupou
12 Wade Graham
13 Paul Gallen (c)

Interchange
14 Ben Barba
15 Matt Prior
16 Tinirau Arona
17 Jayson Bukuya
21 Junior Roqia

 

[phil.kingston]

We will win this week

 

[NZWarriors.com]

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 Sam Tomkins
2 Ken Maumalo
3 Konrad Hurrell
4 Solomone Kata
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Chad Townsend
7 Tuimoala Lolohea
8 Jacob Lillyman
9 Nathan Friend
10 Albert Vete
11 Ben Matulino
12 Simon Mannering (c)
13 Sebastine Ikahihifo

Interchange:
14 Siliva Havili
15 Raymond Faitala-Mariner
16 Charlie Gubb
17 Sam Lisone

18 Sione Lousi
21 Jonathan Wright

 

[ToiletDuck]

Matulino into the backrow...interesting. I guess Cappy felt his hand had been forced with injuries to Hoffman and Bodene?

 

[Warz7]

Gotta admit Cappy made more changes than I expected. Overall pretty happy with the team, especially with what we've got left.

Thank god no more Sione Lousi although I would've preferred to keep Mannering at lock, RFM at second row and Ikahihifo to the bench

 

[Apus]

Always enjoy seeing some back row Mutts. Wonder if he'll get a lot more minutes there? The longer he stays on the field, the more confident I feel.

The rest is probably as strong as we can field right now. Surprisingly confident given how shit our last 2 weeks have been. I expect the boys to show up for this one.

 

[RobRoyMcCoy]

Pretty interesting team. That power running backline looks good. Generally very young. Sound like RFM still in doubt. Looks like 18 and 21 cover for him and Manu respectively.

 

[tajhay]

is there noone else in the club we can name besides Lousi and Havili? These guys are getting a free ride and sick of seeing them being named without earning the right to play first grade.

 

[Tedster]

Please oh please Crappy, don't let Lousy anywhere near the team - why oh why did u ruin my day by even having him as 18th man. Other than that, pretty much the team i expected but disappointing Hoffster still not back - hopefully next week. It seems to be ok if you are a back and you don't perform you get the chop but if you are a forward not performing you get picked and obviously Havilli must now be washing Crappys car.

 

[phil.kingston]

I would've preferred to keep Mannering at lock, RFM at second row and Ikahihifo to the bench

with Hurrell back...mannering to right edge would make it more stable aye....and he can also keep talking to Lolohea
RFM has done well when hes had to come in and provide a burst of energy than play 80mins...probably why hes back to bench

 

[Matulino's Left Shoulder]

With the exception of Havili,

 

[Warz7]

with Hurrell back...mannering to right edge would make it more stable aye....and he can also keep talking to Lolohea
RFM has done well when hes had to come in and provide a burst of energy than play 80mins...probably why hes back to bench

Yeah that's a good point but without Mannering in the middle we don't have that defensive steel. Mannering keeps the team together and I'm scared with him on the edges, our communication in the middle will break down... especially since Ikahihifo isn't too much of a work horse or speaker (or anything else lol)

 

[ryno]

That's an insane amount of power in the backs. Our start to sets should be ridiculous, just hold onto the ball please!!!!

Love Mutts in the back row, might get 60 - 70 minutes out of him?

 

[eX | Machina]

Can't complain really. No rapira or lousi was what I wanted to see. Havili is a waste of interchange but with all these injuries I guess there wasn't much choice.

 

[warriors4sure]

Power football is the recipe for us to make the 8. Tackle 1/ Manu...Tackle 2/ Hurrell Tackle 3/ Maumalo Tackle 4/ Kata Tackle 5/ Chad/Tui play the percentages. Our forwards can piggyback as needed off quick play the balls.
Chad your not top shelf so play within your skill set and Tui play the linkman and when you see something go for it.
Gubb bring those shoulders when you come on...Lisone bring your aggressio.. Havili vary your dummyhalf work...
RFM just follow mannerings lead....
Love this side!

 

[mt.wellington]

Happy to see Glen Fisiiahi dropped. He was shocking last week and didnt warrant another run.

Think we will see Sebastine Ikahihifo play a lot better at lock. Not out wide where he is too slow.

Good to see Charlie Gubb back. Hopefully brings his tackling A game with him. Sick of seeing ineffective wrestling moves. Good hit down low gets the job done and a good one can pump the boys up.

Much better option than Sione Lousi though his inclusion in the extended bench is Cappy speak for you did good last week which is puzzling. Jonathan Wright did ok but was always going to drop out for Manu Vatuvei.

Just on the Beast its great to have him, Konrad Hurrell and Ken Maumalo in the squad. At least we will get our sets off to a good start. Big part of our lack of go forward since Manu has been out...

 

[Maraea]

Yay apart from friend. still rather townsend to hooker who would cover two spots (friend and havili). Tomkins and Lolohea to halves. All the blokes who make metres are in the right place by the looks, will we see more second phase play? With Manu, Matulino, Vete and Ikihiki there you'd think there would be more. Hope they all have big games. Power and speed please!

 

[Warriors95]

I hope Ben and Chad are on the same side. That combination worked quite well in attack last year. Will also determine if Raymond can't catch or if Chad has just been firing shit passes at him.

 

[tajhay]

Yay apart from friend. still rather townsend to hooker who would cover two spots (friend and havili) and give an extra bench space.

So, you want to put our only recognised half in at hooker? Who would be the other half with Lolohea? Sorry, dont follow with how this is supposed to get us an extra bench space.

 

[rocketman]

Have to say am excited about this team last two weeks forgotten can't wait for this weekend.