Courtesy of www.warriors.co.nz
WEBB RETURNS TO VODAFONE WARRIORS SIDE FOR TRIAL AGAINST BULLDOGS
Kiwi fullback Brent Webb is back in the Vodafone Warriors’ side for their final NRL trial against the Bulldogs in Carrara on Saturday night.
A niggling groin injury kept Webb out of the matches against Canberra in Auckland on February 12 and North Queensland in Cairns last Saturday night.
But Cleary today announced the Cairns-born Webb has been cleared to make his only trial appearance before the Vodafone Warriors begin their 2006 NRL campaign against the Melbourne Storm at Ericsson Stadium on March 12.
Webb’s return enables Cleary to field what he regards as his strongest combination heading into the season.
“Our aim had always been to put out our best side in this match against the Bulldogs,†he said.
Webb’s selection means Tony Martin, who started the first two trials in the No 1 jersey, will be on a six-man interchange bench on Saturday night. The change at fullback is the only one in the starting line-up used against the Cowboys.
“While the performance in Cairns wasn’t what we wanted, the big positive to come out of the match was that we had no injuries,†said Cleary.
For his bench, Cleary has settled for a mix of three backs – Grant Rovelli, Patrick Ah Van and Martin – and three forwards in Micheal Luck, Evarn Tuimavave and Epalahame Lauaki. Of the 22 players that travelled to Cairns from Auckland, the three omitted are props Sam Rapira and George Tuakura plus winger Cooper Vuna.
The Vodafone Warriors go into the Carrara Stadium encounter with two trial losses behind them while the Bulldogs were beaten 34-30 by the Sharks in Mollymook on the New South Wales south coast last weekend.
Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga and winger Hazem El Masri are set to make their comebacks from long injury lay-offs on Saturday night. Tonga hasn't played since round nine last year while El Masri last appeared for the Dogs in round 20.
The Dogs’ starting pack features Kiwi international Roy Asotasi plus Kangaroos Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason and captain Andrew Ryan.
Meanwhile, the Vodafone Warriors’ elite development players began their two-match Australian tour by overwhelming the Ipswich Jets 60-4 last night. They play again against the Cudgen Hornets on Friday night.
The teams for the NRL trial on Saturday night are:
VODAFONE WARRIORS: Brent Webb; Todd Byrne, Jerome Ropati, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei; Sione Faumuina, Nathan Fien; Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, Steve Price (c); Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu; Louis Anderson. Interchange – Tony Martin, Patrick Ah Van, Grant Rovelli, Micheal Luck, Epalahame Lauaki, Evarn Tuimavave.
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten; Namila Davui, Reni Maitua, Willie Tonga, Hazem El Masri; Daniel Holdsworth, Brent Sherwin; Mark O’Meley, Adam Perry, Roy Asotasi; Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan (c); Tony Grimaldi. Interchange: Nate Myles, Chris Armit, Ben Czislowski, Corey Hughes, Trent Cutler, Ben Roberts, Brad Morrin.
Referee: Steve Clark.
The other trials this weekend are:
Saturday – Broncos v Storm, Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba; Cowboys v Rabbitohs, Mackay JRL grounds, Mackay; Knights v Sharks, International Stadium, Coffs Harbour; Panthers v Eels, Regional Sports Stadium, Port Macquarie; Tigers v Eagles, Brookvale Oval, Brookvale.
Sunday – Roosters v Dragons, WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
WEBB RETURNS TO VODAFONE WARRIORS SIDE FOR TRIAL AGAINST BULLDOGS
Kiwi fullback Brent Webb is back in the Vodafone Warriors’ side for their final NRL trial against the Bulldogs in Carrara on Saturday night.
A niggling groin injury kept Webb out of the matches against Canberra in Auckland on February 12 and North Queensland in Cairns last Saturday night.
But Cleary today announced the Cairns-born Webb has been cleared to make his only trial appearance before the Vodafone Warriors begin their 2006 NRL campaign against the Melbourne Storm at Ericsson Stadium on March 12.
Webb’s return enables Cleary to field what he regards as his strongest combination heading into the season.
“Our aim had always been to put out our best side in this match against the Bulldogs,†he said.
Webb’s selection means Tony Martin, who started the first two trials in the No 1 jersey, will be on a six-man interchange bench on Saturday night. The change at fullback is the only one in the starting line-up used against the Cowboys.
“While the performance in Cairns wasn’t what we wanted, the big positive to come out of the match was that we had no injuries,†said Cleary.
For his bench, Cleary has settled for a mix of three backs – Grant Rovelli, Patrick Ah Van and Martin – and three forwards in Micheal Luck, Evarn Tuimavave and Epalahame Lauaki. Of the 22 players that travelled to Cairns from Auckland, the three omitted are props Sam Rapira and George Tuakura plus winger Cooper Vuna.
The Vodafone Warriors go into the Carrara Stadium encounter with two trial losses behind them while the Bulldogs were beaten 34-30 by the Sharks in Mollymook on the New South Wales south coast last weekend.
Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga and winger Hazem El Masri are set to make their comebacks from long injury lay-offs on Saturday night. Tonga hasn't played since round nine last year while El Masri last appeared for the Dogs in round 20.
The Dogs’ starting pack features Kiwi international Roy Asotasi plus Kangaroos Mark O'Meley, Willie Mason and captain Andrew Ryan.
Meanwhile, the Vodafone Warriors’ elite development players began their two-match Australian tour by overwhelming the Ipswich Jets 60-4 last night. They play again against the Cudgen Hornets on Friday night.
The teams for the NRL trial on Saturday night are:
VODAFONE WARRIORS: Brent Webb; Todd Byrne, Jerome Ropati, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei; Sione Faumuina, Nathan Fien; Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, Steve Price (c); Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu; Louis Anderson. Interchange – Tony Martin, Patrick Ah Van, Grant Rovelli, Micheal Luck, Epalahame Lauaki, Evarn Tuimavave.
BULLDOGS: Luke Patten; Namila Davui, Reni Maitua, Willie Tonga, Hazem El Masri; Daniel Holdsworth, Brent Sherwin; Mark O’Meley, Adam Perry, Roy Asotasi; Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan (c); Tony Grimaldi. Interchange: Nate Myles, Chris Armit, Ben Czislowski, Corey Hughes, Trent Cutler, Ben Roberts, Brad Morrin.
Referee: Steve Clark.
The other trials this weekend are:
Saturday – Broncos v Storm, Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba; Cowboys v Rabbitohs, Mackay JRL grounds, Mackay; Knights v Sharks, International Stadium, Coffs Harbour; Panthers v Eels, Regional Sports Stadium, Port Macquarie; Tigers v Eagles, Brookvale Oval, Brookvale.
Sunday – Roosters v Dragons, WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
