Newcomers Lewis Brown and Ukuma Ta’ai are set to play for the Vodafone Warriors for the first time in Sunday’s NRL trial against the North Queensland Cowboys at North Harbour Stadium.
Christchurch-born Brown (22), signed from Wests Tigers, comes into the squad after missing last Thursday trial against Melbourne with a hand injury.
Mt Albert second rower Ta’ai, also 22, linked up with the club last season and was also on the injured list last week.
They’re included in a 23-man squad coach Ivan Cleary has named for the second of the club’s three NRL trials.
While captain Steve Price, centres Brent Tate and Jerome Ropati, halfback Nathan Fien and second rower Simon Mannering have been named for their first run in the trials programme, several other front-liners will back up after appearing in last Thursday night’s 24-12 win over Melbourne in Hamilton.
Among them are fullback Wade McKinnon, wingers Manu Vatuvei and Denan Kemp, standoff Joel Moon, halfback Stacey Jones, hooker Ian Henderson and utility Lance Hohaia.
Also named again are Aidan Kirk, Patrick Ah Van, Malo Solomona, Russell Packer, Leeson Ah Mau, Mataupu Poching, Epalahame Lauaki, Elijah Taylor and Daniel O’Regan.
“We did a lot of good things against Melbourne, especially on defence, but we need improvement in quite a few areas still,” said Cleary.
“The Cowboys have brought a strong squad with them and they’ll give us a really tough test. That’s just what any side needs at this time of year to get ready for the season ahead.”
Not being used this week are prop Sam Rapira and back rowers Micheal Luck and Ben Matulino, who all had game time in Hamilton.
Only two players remain on the injured list, Evarn Tuimavave with a neck complaint and new back rower Jacob Lillyman, who’s continuing to work his way back from off-season shoulder surgery. Lillyman will be considered for the final trial against Gold Coast in Lismore on February 28.
Six NRL squad members will play in Sunday’s curtain-raiser, which acts as a trial for both the Vodafone Junior Warriors for their NYC season and also for the Auckland Vulcans as they prepare for the New South Wales Cup.
Fullback Kevin Locke, still eligible for the NYC this year, will again run with the Vodafone Junior Warriors while Liam Foran, Aaron Heremaia, Isaac John and Herman Retzlaff will line up for the Vulcans along with Michael Witt who has been cleared after missing the Hamilton trial with a quadriceps injury.
The NRL trial against North Queensland kicks off at 4.00pm – Ashley Klein and Alan Shortall as the dual referees – while the Vodafone Junior Warriors v Vulcans match starts at 2.15pm. In their first two preseason games the NYC side has beaten Waikato 38-6 and Hawke’s Bay 74-4.
The Vodafone Warriors have a short turnaround for their third trial, travelling to Australia to take on the Gold Coast Titans in Lismore six days later (Saturday, February 28). It’s the same for the Vodafone Junior Warriors who will play their only all-NYC preseason game when they face their Gold Coast counterparts in one of the curtain-raisers.
VODAFONE WARRIORS v NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
North Harbour Stadium, Albany
4.00pm, Sunday, February 22
Referees: Ashley Klein & Alan Shortall
VODAFONE WARRIORS
WADE McKINNON
DENAN KEMP
MANU VATUVEI
MALO SOLOMONA
AIDAN KIRK
BRENT TATE
JEROME ROPATI
PATRICK AH VAN
JOEL MOON
NATHAN FIEN
STACEY JONES
STEVE PRICE (c)
RUSSELL PACKER
LEESON AH MAU
MATAUPU POCHING
IAN HENDERSON
LEWIS BROWN
LANCE HOHAIA
UKUMA TA’AI
SIMON MANNERING
EPALAHAME LAUAKI
ELIJAH TAYLOR
DANIEL O’REGAN
COACH: IVAN CLEARY
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