From the official website of the Vodafone Warriors, www.warriors.co.nz:
Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary had little hesitation today settling on the same 17 players for his side’s NRL encounter with the Bulldogs at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.
The only slight change comes in the starting combination.
While Jerome Ropati, a late addition for last Saturday night’s 46-14 win over South Sydney, will again start at standoff, back rower Micheal Luck reverts to the interchange bench, allowing veteran Awen Guttenbeil to return to the run-on side.
Ropati’s selection means Grant Rovelli goes back to the bench alongside Luck, Evarn Tuimavave and Sione Faumuina.
“After the injuries we’ve had recently, it’s encouraging to not only win our last start but to know we don’t have any new injuries either,†said Cleary.
Giant Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei, who has missed the last three matches with a hamstring complaint, hasn’t yet fully recovered and his replacement Patrick Ah Van faces another three weeks on the sideline with his shoulder injury.
But, despite losing Vatuvei and then Ah Van, Cleary was impressed with the way 24-year-old winger Misi Taulapapa handled his introduction to first-grade football against the Rabbitohs.
“First Patrick and now Misi have shown what they can do at this level and that’s a real credit to the Bartercard Cup. Both of those players showed they could cope with the step up,†he said.
While Cleary was pleased with Taulapapa’s contribution, the key to the Vodafone Warriors’ third – and biggest – win of the season had been the contribution of the side’s three most experienced players.
“Steve (Price), Ruben (Wiki) and Awen (Guttenbeil) are the ones we need to lead from the front and they were all outstanding in that respect against South Sydney. We’ll need a lot more of the same against the Bulldogs,†said Cleary.
The visitors will come into the match on the back of a heavy 14-40 defeat by Manly yesterday after winning their previous two starts against South Sydney (26-18) and Canberra (30-12).
“Their effort against Manly wasn’t what you’d expect and we know they have much more to offer,†said Cleary.
Sonny Bill Williams will be another factor, especially coming into this match with two runs behind him since his return from injury.
The Vodafone Warriors take on the Bulldogs after producing a number of firsts on Saturday night. Steve Price, at his 23rd attempt, scored his first try for the club as did hooker George Gatis, who was making only his fifth appearance as a Vodafone Warrior. Winger Todd Byrne crossed for his first try of the season, the players won at home for the first time this season and also had their maiden victory in the new black strip.
Centre Tony Martin produced the club’s third highest match haul by an individual, his 22 points from a try and nine goals was six points short of the record of 28 jointly held by Cleary (2002) and Gene Ngamu (1996). Martin now has 62 points this season, lifting his career total for the club to 96 and his NRL total to 194.
Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary had little hesitation today settling on the same 17 players for his side’s NRL encounter with the Bulldogs at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.
The only slight change comes in the starting combination.
While Jerome Ropati, a late addition for last Saturday night’s 46-14 win over South Sydney, will again start at standoff, back rower Micheal Luck reverts to the interchange bench, allowing veteran Awen Guttenbeil to return to the run-on side.
Ropati’s selection means Grant Rovelli goes back to the bench alongside Luck, Evarn Tuimavave and Sione Faumuina.
“After the injuries we’ve had recently, it’s encouraging to not only win our last start but to know we don’t have any new injuries either,†said Cleary.
Giant Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei, who has missed the last three matches with a hamstring complaint, hasn’t yet fully recovered and his replacement Patrick Ah Van faces another three weeks on the sideline with his shoulder injury.
But, despite losing Vatuvei and then Ah Van, Cleary was impressed with the way 24-year-old winger Misi Taulapapa handled his introduction to first-grade football against the Rabbitohs.
“First Patrick and now Misi have shown what they can do at this level and that’s a real credit to the Bartercard Cup. Both of those players showed they could cope with the step up,†he said.
While Cleary was pleased with Taulapapa’s contribution, the key to the Vodafone Warriors’ third – and biggest – win of the season had been the contribution of the side’s three most experienced players.
“Steve (Price), Ruben (Wiki) and Awen (Guttenbeil) are the ones we need to lead from the front and they were all outstanding in that respect against South Sydney. We’ll need a lot more of the same against the Bulldogs,†said Cleary.
The visitors will come into the match on the back of a heavy 14-40 defeat by Manly yesterday after winning their previous two starts against South Sydney (26-18) and Canberra (30-12).
“Their effort against Manly wasn’t what you’d expect and we know they have much more to offer,†said Cleary.
Sonny Bill Williams will be another factor, especially coming into this match with two runs behind him since his return from injury.
The Vodafone Warriors take on the Bulldogs after producing a number of firsts on Saturday night. Steve Price, at his 23rd attempt, scored his first try for the club as did hooker George Gatis, who was making only his fifth appearance as a Vodafone Warrior. Winger Todd Byrne crossed for his first try of the season, the players won at home for the first time this season and also had their maiden victory in the new black strip.
Centre Tony Martin produced the club’s third highest match haul by an individual, his 22 points from a try and nine goals was six points short of the record of 28 jointly held by Cleary (2002) and Gene Ngamu (1996). Martin now has 62 points this season, lifting his career total for the club to 96 and his NRL total to 194.
. Hopefully you can smash them as well.
