Stanley makes NYC return after long lay-off

Rugby union convert Braxton Stanley will have his first NYC outing in almost six months when the Vodafone Junior Warriors face St George Illawarra in today’s 25th-round match at WIN Stadium in Wollongong (5.15pm kick-off NZ time).

Stanley appeared in four of the 2011 premiers’ first five matches this season, the last of them in the 28-28 draw with the Sydney Roosters on March 31.

The ex-Auckland Grammar School First XV star has been recovering from a dislocated shoulder most of the year, initially returning through club football.
He teams up in the centres with Ngani Laumape, another of the club’s signings from secondary schools rugby union this season; former Palmerston North Boys’ High School student Laumape is the team’s leading try scorer this season with 15 tries in 16 games.

Stanley comes into the side for Ngataua Hukatai – another union signing – who is being rested today. Also having a break ahead of the finals is prop Nathaniel Peteru.

Stanley is the only change in the starting backline used in last Sunday’s 18-16 win over Penrith while the one change in the starting forward pack is Siulongoua Fotofili, who’s confirmed at prop.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors have named a massive combination on the interchange bench with powerful hooker Trent Bishop joined by props Atu Tupou, Albert Vete and Toka Likiliki. Tupou was impressive last week in his first game back from a knee injury which had side-lined since early April.

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

WIN Stadium, Wollongong
3.15pm, Saturday, August 25

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

1 OMAR SLAIMANKHEL
2 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3 NGANI LAUMAPE
21 BRAXTON STANLEY
5 DAVID FUSITUA
6 PETA HIKU
7 MASON LINO
8 LIGI SAO
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 SIULONGOUA FOTOFILI
11 JOHN PALAVI (c)
12 SIO SIUA TAUKEIAHO
13 DAVID BHANA
Interchange:
14 TRENT BISHOP
16 ALBERT VETE
18 ATU TUPOU
20 TOKA LIKILIKI

COACH: JOHN ACKLAND