Vete returns for Vodafone Junior Warriors

Vodafone Junior Warriors coach John Ackland made two changes to the squad that travelled to Brisbane for tonight’s 19th-round NYC clash against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.

Added to the interchange bench was recalled schoolboy rugby union start Albert Vete as one of the interchange front rowers to replace James Taylor, who has had a run of four games since making his NYC debut.

Vete, who captained the St Kentigern College First XV last year, returns after eight appearances earlier in the season.

The only other change saw Manurewa Marlins junior Jethro Friend coming in as 18th man for Eko Malu. Friend was used in three matches several weeks ago but has since been back playing Fox Memorial football for his club.

After beating Gold Coast last week, with giant stand-in winger Toka Likiliki scoring a hat-trick, the 2010-2011 NYC premiers have moved into second spot on the ladder, giving them a chance of retaining the minor premiership they won for the first time last year. They’re now only two points behind top-placed Penrith; while the Vodafone Warriors face a Brisbane side languishing in 12th place, the Panthers are away to fifth-placed Wests Tigers this weekend.

On May 5 the Vodafone Junior Warriors beat the young Broncos 34-10 at Mount Smart Stadium. When they faced each other at Suncorp Stadium last season, the Vodafone Junior Warriors had to stage a dramatic comeback scoring 20 unanswered points to draw 26-26.

Since losing 10-14 to Penrith last month, the Vodafone Junior Warriors have beaten the Sharks, Cowboys and Titans to surge up the ladder, showing more than a few glimpses of the form that enabled them to dominate the competition last year.

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS v BRISBANE BRONCOS

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
5.15pm, Friday, July 13
Referee: Clayton Sharpe

VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS

1 PETA HIKU
2 VILIAMI LOLOHEA
3 NGANI LAUMAPE
4 NGATAUA HUKATAI
15 TOKA LIKILIKI
6 CARLOS TUIMAVAVE
7 MASON LINO
8 LIGI SAO
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 NATHANIEL PETERU
11 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12 JOHN PALAVI (c)
13 DAVID BHANA
Interchange:
5 SIONE FEAO
14 TRENT BISHOP
16 SIULONGOUA FOTOFILI
17 ALBERT VETE
18 JETHRO FRIEND

COACH: JOHN ACKLAND