Vodafone Warriors dominate NZ Residents 18s

All but four players named today in the 19-man New Zealand Residents 18s squad for next month’s Queensland tour are contracted to the Vodafone Warriors.
Of the 15 included seven appeared for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in the NYC this year – halfback Mason Lino, wingers Ngataua Hukatai and David Fusitua, centres Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard and Braxton Stanley plus forwards James Taylor and Kouma Samson.
The others are Eric Newbigging, Katimiro Atera, Ken Maumalo, Kurt Robinson, Sam Lisone, Tama Koopu, Tuimoala Lolohea and Viliami Kaveinga.
Lino appeared in 23 of the Vodafone Junior Warriors’ 26 matches this year, scoring a total of 144 points. Hukatai switched to rugby league this season after playing rugby union for the King’s College First XV and New Zealand Secondary Schools last year; he played 24 NYC matches this year, scoring 11 tries while Fusitua, who doesn’t turn 18 until next month, scored nine tries in 13 NYC games this year.
Stanley, nephew of former All Black Joe Stanley, converted to rugby league this year after being in the Auckland Grammar School First XV, Tuimavave-Gerrard is another product from the well-known Tuimavave clan and Koopu is the younger brother of 159-game Vodafone Warrior Wairangi Koopu.
Former Vodafone Warriors development coach Ricky Henry, who has guided the Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup this season, will again coach the New Zealand Residents 18s.
Also named today was the New Zealand Residents 16s for two matches in Queensland. Included in the squad are five Vodafone Warriors-contracted players while others are involved with the club’s development squad.
The teams are:

NEW ZEALAND RESIDENTS 16s (Vodafone Warriors-contracted players in bold):

Ahurei Winitana (Upper Central)
Ariel Tusiane (Counties Manukau)
Mafoaa'eata Hingano (Counties Manukau)
Bunty Afoa (Akarana) vice captain
Christian Mika (Counties Manukau)
Daniel Liddicoat (Akarana)
Haimona Hiroti (Mid Central)
Jacob Diaz (Counties Manukau)
Jiordan Fidow-Kele (Southern)
Kadince Christensen (Northern) captain
Kalolo Saitaua (Akarana)
Ken Tofilau (Southern)
Kurt Bernard (Akarana)
Losi Filipo (Wellington)
Michael Uluakiol (Akarana)
Ofahiki Ogden (Counties Manukau)
Richard Timoti (Akarana)
Semisi Vea (Akarana)
Sheldon Pitama (Southern)

Staff:
Coach: Jeff Whittaker (Southern)
Assistant Coach: Moehewa Armstrong (Upper Central)
Manager: Anita Smith-McKinnon (Akarana)
Trainer: Greg Davis (Mid Central)

Itinerary:

Wednesday, October 3 v South East Queensland 16s, Gold Coast
Sunday, October 7 v Queensland Academy of Sport 16s, Gold Coast

NEW ZEALAND RESIDENTS 18s (Vodafone Warriors-contracted players in brackets):

Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard (Akarana)
Afatasi Lio-Collins (Counties Manukau)
Braxton Stanley (Akarana)
Danny Levi (Wellington)
David Fusitua (Akarana)
Eric Newbigging (Counties Manukau)
James Taylor (Akarana)
Joseph Tapine (Wellington)
Katimiro Atera (Counties Manukau)
Ken Maumalo (Counties Manukau)
Kouma Samson (Akarana)
urt Robinson (Wellington)
Mason Lino (Akarana)
Ngataua Hukutai (Akarana)
Reubenn Rennie (Counties Manukau)
Sam Lisone (Counties Manukau)
Tama Koopu (Upper Central)
Tuimola Lolohea (Akarana)
Viliami Kaveinga (Counties Manukau)

Staff:
Coach: Ricky Henry (Akarana)
Assistant Coach: Tom Ball (Southern)
Manager: Mel Rutene (Upper Central)
Trainer: Dave McDermott (Akarana)

Itinerary:

Sunday, October 7 v Gold Coast Titans 18s, Gold Coast
Friday, October 12 v Queensland Maori 18s, Cudgen Leagues Club, Northern NSW