Tuimavave out of Roosters clash tonight

Carlos Tuimavave has failed to recover from his ankle injury for today’s NYC semi-final against the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium (7.15pm kick-off NZ time).

Tuimavave was forced off the field with the injury in last Sunday’s 38-39 loss to Canberra but was named in the side on Tuesday in the hope he would be fit to play.

In his absence, Peta Hiku, the team’s Mr Fix-it, will play at standoff with Omar Slaimankhel back at fullback after missing the Canberra encounter.

The rest of the starting line-up is as selected while there’s one change to what has been the regular interchange bench lately, prop James Taylor coming in for Albert Vete to join Trent Bishop, Toka Likiliki and Nathaniel Peteru.

The Vodafone Junior Warriors are making their first visit to ANZ Stadium since their 31-30 NYC grand final win there against North Queensland on October 2 last year.

In eight previous appearances at the venue since the competition started in 2008, the Vodafone Junior Warriors have won every time, including their two grand final triumphs in 2010 and 2011.

The winner of tonight’s match meets Wests Tigers at the ANZ Stadium next Saturday night.

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS

ANZ Stadium, Homebush
5.15pm, Saturday, September 11
Referee: Grant Atkins

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

18 OMAR SLAIMANKHEL
2 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3 NGANI LAUMAPE
4 NGATAUA HUKATAI
5 DAVID FUSITUA
1 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
15 TOKA LIKILIKI
16 NATHANIEL PETERU
17 ALBERT VETE
20 JAMES TAYLOR

COACH: JOHN ACKLAND