The Beast is back for Anzac Day match
Manu Vatuvei returns on the left wing with Tuimoala Lolohea confirmed to start at fullback and Thomas Leuluai in the halves for the Vodafone Warriors’ eighth-round Anzac Day encounter with Melbourne at AAMI Park on Monday (7.00pm kick-off local time; 9.00pm NZT).
Vatuvei, just two short of 150 career tries, will make his fifth appearance of the season after missing the last two games with a hamstring injury.
The 30-year-old 214-game veteran’s last outing was the 32-28 golden point win over the Sydney Roosters on April 3.
Lolohea takes over at fullback for
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who has had his first season with the club cruelly ended after rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee early in Saturday night’s memorable 24-20 win over the Bulldogs in Wellington.
Leuluai starts his first game in almost a year after coming on to play 64 minutes at halfback following
Tuivasa-Sheck’s 16th-minute exit at Westpac Stadium.
With Vatuvei back, utility Jonathan Wright moves to the bench alongside forwards Jacob Lillyman, Charlie Gubb and Ligi Sao.
Vodafone Warriors V Melbourne Storm
Aami Park, Melbourne
7.00pm, Monday, April 25
Vodafone Warriors
1 Tuimoala Lolohea
2
David Fusitua
3 Blake Ayshford
4 Solomone Kata
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Thomas Leuluai
7
Shaun Johnson
8 Sam
Lisone
9 Issac Luke
10 Ben Matulino
11 Bodene Thompson
12 Ryan Hoffman (c)
13 Simon Mannering
Interchange
14 Jonathan Wright
15 Jacob Lillyman
16 Charlie Gubb
17 Ligi Sao