Vodafone Warriors head coach Matthew Elliott (pictured) has tweaked his familiar line-up only slightly by naming 18 players for Sunday’s 23rd-round NRL encounter with the Penrith Panthers at Mount Smart Stadium (NRL: 4.00pm kick-off; NYC: 1.45pm kick-off). Photo:
Photosport
He has retained the same 17 used in the last three matches while adding centre Jerome Ropati to create a five-man bench.
The 28-year-old 140-game NRL veteran wasn’t originally named but was used as 18th man for each of the Vodafone Warriors’ last two matches against Cronulla and Manly.
In recent weeks Ropati has been turning out for the Vulcans in the New South
Wales Cup as he has built his way back from injury. He missed the Vulcans’ big win over Canterbury-Bankstown last weekend, travelling to Gosford instead to provide cover in the outside backs for the NRL side.
His only two NRL appearances so far this season were against Melbourne and Gold Coast in round seven and eight.
Other than his inclusion, Elliott has the same line-up used against Melbourne, the Sharks and the Sea Eagles over the past three weeks.
With losses in the last two outings after a run of seven wins from eight games, the Vodafone Warriors take on Penrith on Heroes’ Day, the club’s annual celebration of the contribution the emergency services make to the community.
They go into their fourth to last match of the regular season in 10th spot on 22 points, just two behind eight-placed Gold Coast and ninth-placed Canberra, two sides they face in the next two rounds after the Penrith fixture.
The Panthers have remained on 20 points for four weeks having dropped their last four games to Newcastle (14-32), Cronulla (10-38), the Sydney Roosters (6-42) and North Queensland (4-36).
“While they may not have good recent form we, of all teams, know what they’re capable of,” said Elliott.
“We’ll undoubtedly be reminded about what happened the last time we met but a lot has changed since then. We’ve shown plenty of improvement generally but had a tough day against a very, very good Manly side on Sunday.
“This is a game of major significance for us. Every game, every week is. What we need to do is to strive for the type of performance we know we’re capable of.
“Our members and fans have been brilliant supporting the team this season and we’ll certainly need everything they can provide this Sunday. This will certainly be another major test for us.”
It will be captain Simon Mannering’s 185th career appearance, drawing him level with Lance Hohaia in third spot on the Vodafone Warriors’ all-time list behind only Logan Swann (195) and Stacey Jones (261). Still only 26, Mannering will lead the side for the 85th time leaving him only six games short of equalling Steve Price’s club record of 91 games in charge from 2005-2009.
Prop Sam Rapira will edge closer to his 150-game milestone with his 148th match for the club while fellow front rower Jacob Lillyman plays his 97th game since joining the club in 2009.
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