Round 3
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 52 d. New Zealand Warriors 6

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Rovelli brings up half century in tonight's clash against Manly
Mon March 31, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vodafone Warriors halfback Grant Rovelli will make his 50th NRL appearance in tonight's encounter with Manly at Brookvale Oval.

The 24-year-old Queenslander joined the club after being limited to reserve grade football with the Sydney Roosters.

Looking for an opportunity to break into the NRL, he made his debut in the opening match of the 2006 season against Melbourne and went on to feature in every one of the Vodafone Warriors' 24 matches that season.

A finalist in the Dally M Rookie of the Year Award, Rovelli was prevented from bringing up his half century last season when he spent three games playing for the Vodafone Auckland Lions in the New South Wales Premier League.

The Mackay-born Rovelli re-established himself at NRL level for the rest of the season going on to become the club's top equal try scorer with 10 touchdowns. His try against Parramatta last Sunday was the 15th of his career.

Closing in on the 100-game milestone is fullback Lance Hohaia. Celebrating his 25th birthday tomorrow, Hohaia will play his 97th NRL match tonight as he eyes the prospect of becoming the 12th player to appear in 100 first-grade matches for the Vodafone Warriors; the last to achieve the feat was Brent Webb in 2006.

Returning to the side tonight for the first time this season is utility Wairangi Koopu, who has been brought in to replace the injured Jerome Ropati in the centres. Koopu, who turns 28 on Wednesday, will be making his 154th career appearance after starting the season with an outing for the Auckland Vulcans against Central Coast in the New South Wales Premier League. He was 18th man last weekend after fullback Aidan Kirk was ruled out with an ankle injury.

Koopu replaced Ropati 10 minutes into last year's late-season clash against Manly at Mt Smart Stadium. He went on to score two tries in his 150th NRL match.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors take on Manly in the National Youth Competition (NYC) in tonight's curtain-raiser. The match kicks off at 4.45pm (AEST).

CASUALTY WARD
* Wade McKinnon (knee)
* Steve Price (hamstring)
* Jerome Ropati (ankle)

STATISTICS
* Lance Hohaia is closing in on the milestone of 100 appearances for the Vodafone Warriors. Only 11 players have achieved the mark. This will be Hohaia's 97th match.
* Grant Rovelli will make his 50th NRL appearance tonight.
* This will be the 14th encounter between the Vodafone Warriors and Manly.
* The Vodafone Warriors had an away record of five wins, a draw and six losses in the 2007 regular season.
* Michael Witt kicked 62 goals from 67 attempts in 2007, a success rate of 92.50 per cent. He has so far kicked eight goals from eight attempts this season, giving him a record of 70 goals from 75 attempts in 27 matches for the Vodafone Warriors (93.33%). He has a total of 169 points for the club and 489 career points.
* Ruben Wiki is in his 16th season as a first-grade player since making his debut for Canberra in 1993. He has played 290 matches (225 for the Raiders, 65 for the Vodafone Warriors) and is in line to become only the 10th player in the competition's history to play 300 games.
* Loose forward Micheal Luck will continue his unbroken run of games for the Vodafone Warriors. Tonight he will play his 53rd match on end since joining the club in 2006.
* Luck is one of four players who didn't miss a game for the club last year. Luck, Nathan Fien, Simon Mannering and Sam Rapira played all 26 matches while Michael Witt, Logan Swann and Evarn Tuimavave missed only one game and Epalahame Lauaki missed two.
* Mannering and Rapira also appeared in each of the Kiwis' six tests last year giving them a total of 32 top-level matches.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS V MANLY
* Overall: Played 13, Won 6, Lost 7
* At Brookvale Oval: Played 6, Won 4, Lost 2
* Biggest win: 36-10, Brookvale Oval, 1999
* Most recent win: 36-14, Mt Smart Stadium, 2007

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Brookvale Oval, Manly
7.05pm, Monday, March 31, 2008
Referee: Sean Hampstead

Vodafone Warriors
1 Lance Hohaia
2 Patrick Ah Van
3 Brent Tate
18 Wairangi Koopu
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 Lance Hohaia
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Sonny Fai
18th Man: Ryan Shortland

Coach: Ivan Cleary

Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
1 Brett Stewart
2 Michael Robertson
3 Steve Bell
6 Jamie Lyon
5 Michael Bani
13 Steve Menzies
7 Matt Orford (c)
8 Jason King
9 Matt Ballin
10 Brent Kite
11 Anthony Watmough
12 Glenn Stewart
15 Luke Williamson

Interchange (Two To Be Omitted):
14 Josh Perry
16 Adam Cuthbertson
17 Mark Bryant
18 Heath L'estrange
19 Glenn Hall
20 Jake Afamasaga

Coach: Des Hasler

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz


Koopu replaces injured Ropoti for Sea Eagles clash
Thu March 27, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Wairangi Koopu has replaced injured centre Jerome Ropati for the Vodafone Warriors' third-round NRL clash against Manly at Brookvale Oval next Monday night.

Scans have confirmed the 23-year-old Ropati has ankle ligament damage which is expected to sideline him for three weeks.

Koopu was named as 18th man when the team was named on Tuesday. Former Melbourne Storm centre Ryan Shortland is the new 18th man for the trip.
The Vodafone Warriors travel to Sydney on Sunday.

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue March 25, 2008
• Ropati chosen but remains in doubt for NRL clash against Manly
  

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