Team List NRL 2008 Round 6 - Cowboys vs Warriors TEAM LIST

[kingdamo_old]

Vodafone Warriors centre Jerome Ropati makes his return for Saturday night’s sixth-round NRL clash against North Queensland at Dairy Farmers Stadium in Townsville.
The 23-year-old has been cleared by medical staff after missing the last three games with ankle ligament damage.
He comes in for former Melbourne centre Ryan Shortland (22) who played in the back-to-back wins against Newcastle and the Bulldogs, scoring two tries in his club debut against the Knights.
Teamed up in the centres with off-season signing Brent Tate, Ropati was impressive in the Vodafone Warriors’ first two matches of the season against the Melbourne Storm and the Parramatta Eels.
“Ryan has done a really good job for us in Jerome’s absence,” said coach Ivan Cleary.
“It’s great for us to know we have back-up of that quality in our squad. That’s what you aim for when you try to build depth in your squad.
“At the same time, it’s good to see Jerome recovering from his injury. We expected him to be out two or three games and it’s worked out to be three.”
While Ropati’s return is a boost as the Vodafone Warriors seek their first away win of the year, the match in Townsville is notable on two other levels.
For one it brings up a major milestone for converted fullback Lance Hohaia, who will make his 100th first-grade appearance against the same opposition and at the same venue as his debut in 2002.
And for another the Vodafone Warriors will be kitted out in an eye-catching red strip specially made for the NRL’s Heritage Round, a focal part of the competition’s centenary. All 16 teams will be wearing replica kits in this week’s round of matches.
That makes it even more significant for the 25-year-old Hohaia, who happens to be the club’s 99th first-grade player. He’ll become only the 12th player to appear in 100 NRL matches for the Vodafone Warriors.
He was only five days past his 19th birthday when he made his try-scoring debut in the Vodafone Warriors’ 50-20 win against the Cowboys on April 6, 2002. They haven’t won in Townsville since then.
Hohaia, who started his first-grade career in the halves, is now the ultimate utility. He has also played at hooker and in the centres while this year he has been transformed into a fullback, filling the void created by Wade McKinnon’s serious knee injury.
The Vodafone Warriors’ strip for Saturday night’s match will see them wearing a red jersey with white and blue trim, red shorts and blue socks. It’s a replica of the club’s alternate kit in the 1999 and 2000 seasons.
The Cowboys will turn back the clock to sport the colours worn by the North Queensland representative team in its victory over the touring Great Britain side in 1966.
Standoff Michael Witt added another six goals to his haul in the win against the Bulldogs – he has 20 from 22 for the season – to lift his tally to 193 points in 30 games for the Vodafone Warriors.
Former Cowboys Nathan Fien and Micheal Luck return to Townsville for the third time in nine months. They played against their old side at Dairy Farmers Stadium in the regular season defeat in July last year and again in the season-ending play-off loss in October.
Luck, who had 76 outings for North Queensland, hasn’t missed a match since joining the Vodafone Warriors in 2006; he’ll extend that unbroken sequence to 56 games on Saturday night.

VODAFONE WARRIORS
1
LANCE HOHAIA

2
PATRICK AH VAN

3
BRENT TATE

4
JEROME ROPATI

5
MANU VATUVEI

6
MICHAEL WITT

7
GRANT ROVELLI

8
SAM RAPIRA

9
NATHAN FIEN

10
RUBEN WIKI (c)

11
SIMON MANNERING

12
LOGAN SWANN

13
MICHEAL LUCK


Interchange:

14
IAN HENDERSON

15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE

16
EPALAHAME LAUAKI

17
SONNY FAI

WAIRANGI KOOPU (18th MAN)

 

[-Dr.J-_old]

Paddy's still there...

 

[MarkW_old]

It'll be good to see Jro back on the field - he's had such a crappy run of injuries over the last year or two.

Shortland filled in admirably and I'm sure the experience would have served him well. Twice as many first grade games than he played for the Storm anyway


The big question is, who will drop out of the team when Price returns? I'm betting probably Fai.

 

[Mone_old]

The big question is, who will drop out of the team when Price returns? I'm betting probably Fai.

Most likely, I think he will miss out.
And its a way off but what happens to Lance when Wade is back (assuming Henderson keeps improving and Fien keeps performing).

 

[2big2strong_old]

I don't think that'll be the final line up because i heard on the radio only an hour ago that Ah Van is highly unlikely to play due to a back problem. Who would they bring onto the wing? surely not Wairangi who is 18th man, I'd say Shortland or Crockett, even though I'd like to see Solomona in action.

 

[kingdamo_old]

Well if Wairangis the 18th man, and they take only those 18 over to Queensland, it would be Wairangi centre then maybe Tate or someone to the wing?

Or just Wai on the wing.. No that wouldn't work.

 

[Meh_old]

It'll be good to see Jro back on the field - he's had such a crappy run of injuries over the last year or two.

Shortland filled in admirably and I'm sure the experience would have served him well. Twice as many first grade games than he played for the Storm anyway


The big question is, who will drop out of the team when Price returns? I'm betting probably Fai.

I have a funny feeling it might be Swann or Lauaki who drop off actually.

I remember Cleary saying something about blooding Fai later so he could stay in first grade, and not be in and out of it so he can establish himself.

Besides, based on what each player adds to the team, ide have Fai over Swann and Lauaki any day.

 

[Jesbass_old]

I don't think that'll be the final line up because i heard on the radio only an hour ago that Ah Van is highly unlikely to play due to a back problem. Who would they bring onto the wing? surely not Wairangi who is 18th man, I'd say Shortland or Crockett, even though I'd like to see Solomona in action.

As Koopu is the 18th man, he has to take join the lineup.

However, if Ah Van is ruled out earlier in the week, before the team travels, Ivan can tinker.

(I think.)

 

[2big2strong_old]

As Koopu is the 18th man, he has to take join the lineup.

However, if Ah Van is ruled out earlier in the week, before the team travels, Ivan can tinker.

(I think.)

Not necessarily so, I've seen plenty of 18th men miss out in favour of someone in that particular position. Look at Russell Packer 2 weeks ago, he was going to take Evarns place on the bench just before kick off, thus leapfrogging Wairangi who has been 18th man in the last 3 rounds.

My guess is that they'll either pull someone out of the NSW cup squad later in the week or promote someone from the U20's squad (the later being highly unlikely)

 

[Northern_Union]

I take it Shortland has dropped out of the 18?

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

Good stuff for Ropo, but I thought Shortland did well in the two games. If indeed Paddy pulls out before time they can use some one else, but if last minute I guess they'll move Tate out further and maybe bring Koopu in.

 

[MarkW_old]

I take it Shortland has dropped out of the 18?

It looks that way, but it's also possible he could slot in for Ah Van on the wing - at least his profile says he's a centre/wing.

We'll find out soon enough!

 

[Mone_old]

It could be the worst possible timing for Paddy if Shortland replaces him and has a blinder.

 

[Jesbass_old]

Not necessarily so, I've seen plenty of 18th men miss out in favour of someone in that particular position. Look at Russell Packer 2 weeks ago, he was going to take Evarns place on the bench just before kick off, thus leapfrogging Wairangi who has been 18th man in the last 3 rounds.

My guess is that they'll either pull someone out of the NSW cup squad later in the week or promote someone from the U20's squad (the later being highly unlikely)

Yeah, the cut off time is two hours before kick off, when the lineup is confirmed. You can confirm it after that time to fool the opposition, but there's a fine that goes along with it. But I don't think fans and sponsors would mind handing over a few extra dollars if the ruse works - especially if it was in a grand final!

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

lol, yeah like Taylor's special meeting in last night's game. He had no idea too!!

 

[-Dr.J-_old]

I think injury causes exemption....

 

[Jesbass_old]

I think injury causes exemption....

Indeed. I think you're right. It's only when the lineup is changed based solely on selection, (excluding injury), that the fine applies.

 

[sebastian_old]

Assuming Koopu is really there to cover Paddy if he's injured this is a very strange pick. From what I've seen Koopu can cover centre very well but surely not wing. Surely if Paddy's out it'll be a late straight swap for Shortland or Malo. The only way I can see the Koopu pick working if he does push Tate to the wing but Tate's on too much form in the centre's to move him to the wing & putting a actuall winger there will surely cause less disruption to our backs than Koopu pushing Tate to the wing. I will be very interested to see how Ivan plays this if Paddy's ruled out.

 

[JonB_old]

I would chuck Shortland out there.l I don't think Crockett does anything for our future.....

When Price comes back i hope Fai stays in the team and Swann gets dropped.

 

[ToiletDuck_old]

Yeah putting Tate on the wing would be a waste. He's looking likely at centre.