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Wairangi KOOPU [Player Stats]

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Koopu in centres for encounter with Souths
Fri June 6, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Wairangi Koopu has been brought into the centres for the Vodafone Warriors' 13th-round NRL clash against South Sydney at Mt Smart Stadium tonight.

The spot had been left vacant after winger Manu Vatuvei, originally named to make his comeback in this match from a leg injury, had failed a fitness test on Tuesday.

After Vatuvei's withdrawal, coach Ivan Cleary reshuffled his side by shifting Aidan Kirk back to the left wing ? where he had played in each of the previous two games - and decided against naming a new centre as he considered various options.

Koopu (28) wasn't included in the original 17-man squad. This will be just his fifth NRL game of the year in a season when he has also played for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup.

The Vodafone Warriors are otherwise unchanged.

Micheal Luck, leading the side again with Steve Price on Origin duty, will make his 62nd consecutive appearance since joining the Vodafone Warriors.

Apart from Luck, six other players will maintain their record of playing in every match so far this season; the others are Nathan Fien, Epalahame Lauaki, Simon Mannering, Sam Rapira, Grant Rovelli and Evarn Tuimavave.

Vice-captain Ruben Wiki, recalled to the side, will be playing his 297th first-grade game.

VODAFONE WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
8.00pm, Friday, June 6
Referee: Tony De Las Heras

Vodafone Warriors

1 Patrick Ah Van
2 Michael Crockett
18 Wairangi Koopu
4 Jerome Ropati
3 Aidan Kirk
6 Nathan Fien
7 Grant Rovelli
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 Ian Henderson
10 Sam Rapira
11 Simon Mannering
12 Epalahame Lauaki
13 Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange:
14 Lance Hohaia
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Russell Packer
17 Sonny Fai

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Warriors recalled Koopu, Crockett and Shortland
Tue April 22, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Veteran back rower Wairangi Koopu, winger Michael Crockett and centre Ryan Shortland have all been recalled for the Vodafone Warriors' seventh-round NRL clash against competition leaders the Gold Coast Titans at Skilled Park in Robina on Sunday.

Shortland (22) made way for experienced Jerome Ropati's return against North Queensland last Saturday night but he comes straight back into the side for his third match this year with Ropati sidelined again with a hamstring injury.

The 25-year-old Crockett, who scored seven tries in 14 NRL appearances last year, is set to play his first match of the year for the Vodafone Warriors after scoring five tries in six games for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup.

He comes in for 20-year-old Patrick Ah Van who left the field in Townsville on Saturday night after taking a heavy knock.

And Koopu (28), used against Manly on March 31 in his only previous NRL match this year, comes onto the bench for 20-year-old Sonny Fai.

"Sonny's going to play for the Vodafone Junior Warriors this weekend," said coach Ivan Cleary.

"He's had a good introduction to the NRL with five matches on end but he needs a lot more time on the field. He'll get that with the under-20s and he'll be back soon.

"It's a blow that Jerome's been injured again but we've seen what Ryan can do so it's a comfort being able to call on him.

"Patrick's not quite right and that gives Michael a shot. He's been working for it in the New South Wales Cup and again we're able to bring in a player with some experience and one who also has a good try-scoring record."

The Vodafone Warriors will this Sunday seek their first away win of the year after a run of decisive losses to 2007's top three-placed sides at the end of the regular season - Melbourne, Manly and North Queensland.

Now they face a Gold Coast side that has won each of its first four matches at its new ground to help it to the outright lead in the competition.

"Obviously our away form is a concern for us," said Cleary.

"We've had three very good wins at home but we haven't really caused our opponents much trouble on the road. That has to change."

The Vodafone Warriors beat the Titans 22-6 at Gold Coast Stadium last June.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
Skilled Park, Robina
Sunday, April 27, 2008
2.00pm (AEST), 4:00pm (NZ)

Warriors (NRL):
1 Lance Hohaia
2 Michael Crockett
3 Brent Tate
4 Ryan Shortland
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

Subs:
14 Ian Henderson
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Wairangi Koopu

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Thu March 27, 2008

Koopu replaces injured Ropoti for Sea Eagles clash

Mon February 4, 2008

Warriors One Community initiative is launced

======================================================================================================

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
6 games; [View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] L 6-52 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR] 
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] L 24-36 v Gold Coast (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 8 [04 May 08] W 14-6 v Raiders (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [F8] 
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [CT] 
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] W 18-4 v Sharks (H). [BE] 
======================================================================================================

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
14 games; 5 tries, 20 points. 
		 [View] Round 11 [28 May 07] L 6-30 v Eels (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 12 [03 Jun 07] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 13 [10 Jun 07] L 2-4 v Storm (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 14 [16 Jun 07] W 12-2 v Sharks (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 07] W 54-14 v Panthers (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [30 Jun 07] W 22-6 v Gold Coast (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] L 12-18 v Cowboys (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 18 [15 Jul 07] W 44-16 v Dragons (H). [BE] 
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] W 28-16 v Tigers (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 52-10 v Knights (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [05 Aug 07] D 31-31 v Roosters (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] L 24-26 v Raiders (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 24 [26 Aug 07] W 36-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 25 [01 Sep 07] W 24-20 v Panthers (A). [BE] 
======================================================================================================

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
20 games; 6 tries, 24 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 06] L 16-22 v Storm (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 06] L 14-22 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] W 26-10 v Tigers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] W 26-22 v Knights (A). [SR]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 06] L 8-22 v Sea Eagles (H). [SR]
[View] Round 6 [15 Apr 06] L 14-18 v Raiders (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] W 46-14 v Rabbitohs (H). [LK]
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 06] L 16-30 v Bulldogs (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] L 16-22 v Dragons (A). [SR]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 34-12 v Tigers (H). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 20-34 v Sharks (A). [SR] 8 Pts; 2t (65th, 78th)
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 06] L 18-23 v Broncos (H). [CT]
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Roosters (A). [BE]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 06] W 66-0 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 28-22 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [09 Jul 06] L 18-22 v Bulldogs (A). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 06] L 12-20 v Eels (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 6-36 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 12-10 v Sharks (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================

2005 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
24 games; 9 tries, 36 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [13 Mar 05] L 20-26 v Sea Eagles (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (54th)
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 05] W 24-12 v Broncos (A). [SR]
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] L 22-32 v Cowboys (H). [SR]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 05] W 46-14 v Souths (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (26th)
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 05] L 6-24 v Tigers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 05] W 30-26 v Knights (A). [SR]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 05] L 14-16 v Panthers (H). [LK]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 05] L 24-28 v Sharks (A). [LK] 4 Pts; 1t (15th)
[View] Round 10 [15 May 05] L 6-10 v Roosters (H). [LK]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] W 34-16 v Souths (A). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [29 May 05] W 21-4 v Tigers (H). [SR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] L 18-32 v Dragons (A). [SR]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 05] W 24-16 v Storm (H). [SR]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 05] L 18-28 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] W 30-18 v Broncos (H). [SR] 8 Pts; 2t (24th, 80th)
[View] Round 17 [02 Jul 05] L 16-24 v Cowboys (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (34th)
[View] Round 18 [10 Jul 05] L 24-26 v Bulldogs (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (18th)
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 05] W 24-22 v Roosters (A). [SR]
[View] Round 20 [23 Jul 05] W 24-16 v Raiders (H). [SR]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 05] L 34-42 v Panthers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 05] L 20-38 v Eels (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (10th)
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 05] L 10-22 v Storm (A). [SR]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 05] L 4-16 v Knights (H). [SR]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 05] W 22-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t (30th)
======================================================================================================

2005 International Test Matches

New Zealand Kiwis 
1 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [22 Apr 05] L 16-32 v Australia (A). [SR]
======================================================================================================

2004 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
2 games; [View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] L 20-28 v Broncos (A). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 04] L 10-16 v Dragons (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================

Koopu, Wairangi

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