RD 6 TEAM: DWZ IN, MONTOYA OUT FOR ROOSTERS SHOWDOWN
Via Warriors Media
Experienced winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak will make his comeback from a four-match injury lay-off when the Vodafone Warriors face the Sydney Roosters in a sixth-round NRL clash which will evoke memories of the grand final meeting between the two sides 20 years ago.
Watene-Zelezniak has been side-lined since breaking his left thumb in the opening minutes of the club’s opening round loss to St George Illawarra.
After having surgery, the Kiwi captain has been rushed straight back slightly ahead of schedule for the special heritage occasion when the Vodafone Warriors and Roosters collide at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Sunday (2.00pm kick-off local time; 4.00pm NZT).
The Vodafone Warriors will wear the iconic jersey instantly associated with the club’s first grand final appearance in 2002 and readily identified with one of the most successful eras in its history.
Predominantly black with blue, red and white trimming, it’s this jersey which is connected with the Vodafone Warriors delivering a string of exceptional performances on their way to reaching the NRL finals for the first time in 2001 and then winning the minor premiership and playing a maiden home final en route to the grand final the following year.
While the Vodafone Warriors will wear a replica 2002 jersey, the Roosters will be kitted out in the white strip modelled on the one they wore in the title showdown.
Head coach Nathan Brown has named a top 17 which shows two changes from the side used in last Friday night’s dramatic 25-24 golden point victory over North Queensland. That sees Eliesa Katoa coming onto the bench replacing Jack Murchie.
And left winger Marcelo Montoya has been omitted ahead of facing a contrary conduct judicial hearing tonight with Edward Kosi replacing him.
For the third week running head coach Nathan Brown has been able to name the same spine of Reece Walsh, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Shaun Johnson and Wayde Egan while the pack is the same as one that started against the Cowboys last Friday night.
As well as Watene-Zelezniak, young centres Rocco Berry and Viliami Vailea are again on the expanded bench after playing for feeder club Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup last weekend.
With three straight wins over the Wests Tigers, Brisbane and North Queensland, the Vodafone Warriors start the round in seventh spot on the table with six points; the Roosters are also on six points but sit fifth with a better points for and against differential.
The consistently well-performed Roosters will provide the Vodafone Warriors with by far their sternest challenge of the season so far as they strive for a fourth consecutive win.
The home side is coming off wins over the same opponents the Vodafone Warriors have beaten in the last fortnight. After accounting for the Cowboys 28-4 in the fourth round, they had to rally to overcome the Broncos 24-20.
WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
4.00pm, Sunday, April 17
WARRIORS
1 REECE WALSH
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK
3 JESSE ARTHARS
4 ADAM POMPEY
5 EDWARD KOSI
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE (c)
9 WAYDE EGAN
10 MATT LODGE
11 EUAN AITKEN
12 BAYLEY SIRONEN
13 JOSH CURRAN
Interchange:
14 KODI NIKORIMA
15 BUNTY AFOA
16 AARON PENE
17 ELIESA KATOA
18 TANIELA OTUKOLO
20 VILIAMI VAILEA
21 PRIDE PETTERSON-ROBATI
22 ROCCO BERRY
23 OTUKINEKINA KEPU
24 JUNIOR RATUVA
25 VALINGI KEPU
Head coach | Nathan BROWN
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