From www.warriors.co.nz:
Young prop Sam Rapira comes in for unavailable captain Steve Price in the only change to the Vodafone Warriors’ 17-man squad for Saturday night’s NRL clash against Penrith.
Price is ruled out after being selected in the Queensland side for his 20th State of Origin match in tomorrow week’s 2006 series decider in Melbourne.
That sees Rapira (19) reintroduced to the bench with Evarn Tuimavave, recently re-signed on a new three-year contract, named to start for just the fifth time in what will be his 42nd first-grade appearance.
It will be Rapira’s fourth first-grade game after earlier bench appearances against Wests Tigers, Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters.
Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary again had no difficulty settling on this week’s side.
“It would be great to have Steve but we’re used to losing him when Origin comes along,†he said.
“In the two matches we’ve been without him in the series so far, we’ve been able to beat Wests Tigers and the Roosters.
“Sam came in and did a good job in each of those matches and we’ll need him to do the same again against the Panthers.â€Â
While the Vodafone Warriors lose Price to the Origin match, the Panthers will be without two of their first-choice players through representative commitments. Halfback Craig Gower has been recalled to the New South Wales side and fullback Rhys Wesser was last night drafted into the Queensland team on the wing.
“They’re important players for Penrith but we’ve seen before this season that other clubs still have more than capable back-ups and the Panthers won’t be any different,†said Cleary.
He said his players weren’t getting ahead of themselves despite the Vodafone Warriors’ record-setting 66-0 rout of South Sydney on Sunday giving the club three successive wins for the first time since the run to the 2003 finals.
“We’ve had a good run lately because the players have sustained a good level of performance and consistency in the last four matches,†said Cleary.
“It was certainly pleasing to see the players stick to the game plan against South Sydney and to play out the full 80 minutes but you have to move on quickly from matches like that.
“Penrith will be a challenge. They had a great result last weekend beating Wests Tigers after coming off the bye.â€Â
Fullback Brent Webb will make his 97th appearance for the Vodafone Warriors on Saturday night. After lifting his 2006 tally to eight tries last Sunday he now needs only one more try to top 200 points in his NRL career.
Standoff Jerome Ropati and second rower Louis Anderson play their 49th NRL games.
Ben Cummins has been named to referee the match. Gavin Badger, last Sunday’s referee, is one of the touch judges while Bill Harrigan is the video ref.
Young prop Sam Rapira comes in for unavailable captain Steve Price in the only change to the Vodafone Warriors’ 17-man squad for Saturday night’s NRL clash against Penrith.
Price is ruled out after being selected in the Queensland side for his 20th State of Origin match in tomorrow week’s 2006 series decider in Melbourne.
That sees Rapira (19) reintroduced to the bench with Evarn Tuimavave, recently re-signed on a new three-year contract, named to start for just the fifth time in what will be his 42nd first-grade appearance.
It will be Rapira’s fourth first-grade game after earlier bench appearances against Wests Tigers, Cronulla and the Sydney Roosters.
Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary again had no difficulty settling on this week’s side.
“It would be great to have Steve but we’re used to losing him when Origin comes along,†he said.
“In the two matches we’ve been without him in the series so far, we’ve been able to beat Wests Tigers and the Roosters.
“Sam came in and did a good job in each of those matches and we’ll need him to do the same again against the Panthers.â€Â
While the Vodafone Warriors lose Price to the Origin match, the Panthers will be without two of their first-choice players through representative commitments. Halfback Craig Gower has been recalled to the New South Wales side and fullback Rhys Wesser was last night drafted into the Queensland team on the wing.
“They’re important players for Penrith but we’ve seen before this season that other clubs still have more than capable back-ups and the Panthers won’t be any different,†said Cleary.
He said his players weren’t getting ahead of themselves despite the Vodafone Warriors’ record-setting 66-0 rout of South Sydney on Sunday giving the club three successive wins for the first time since the run to the 2003 finals.
“We’ve had a good run lately because the players have sustained a good level of performance and consistency in the last four matches,†said Cleary.
“It was certainly pleasing to see the players stick to the game plan against South Sydney and to play out the full 80 minutes but you have to move on quickly from matches like that.
“Penrith will be a challenge. They had a great result last weekend beating Wests Tigers after coming off the bye.â€Â
Fullback Brent Webb will make his 97th appearance for the Vodafone Warriors on Saturday night. After lifting his 2006 tally to eight tries last Sunday he now needs only one more try to top 200 points in his NRL career.
Standoff Jerome Ropati and second rower Louis Anderson play their 49th NRL games.
Ben Cummins has been named to referee the match. Gavin Badger, last Sunday’s referee, is one of the touch judges while Bill Harrigan is the video ref.
