Former Vodafone Warriors and Kiwi internationals Duane Mann and Jerry Seuseu plus a number of the young contracted players will be involved in next week’s New Zealand Rugby League national performance camp in Rotorua.
More than 80 of the country’s most promising under-16 and under-18 players will attend the four-day event.
Vodafone Warriors academy and pathways manager Mann (Vodafone Warrior #9 | Kiwi #609) will be involved in coaching sessions at Puketawhero Park on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday ahead of the national trials for the New Zealand Residents Under-16 and Under-18 teams at Rotorua International Stadium on Wednesday.
Vodafone Warriors welfare and education manager Seuseu (Vodafone Warrior #50 | Kiwi #692) will present at sessions covering off-field development and career advice.
Former Kiwi captain Mann has been heavily involved travelling around the country assisting with the NZRL’s zone performance camps recently.
In Rotorua, Mann and Seuseu will work alongside other former Kiwis Nathan Cayless, Nigel Vagana, Tony Iro, Daryl Halligan and Brent Stuart. Also involved in the camp is Canterbury-Bankstown head coach Des Hasler.
The Vodafone Warriors contribute heavily to the game nationally in a range of areas including coaching and management staff for the Kiwis and other national teams as well as supporting the annual New Zealand Secondary Rugby League Nationals.
At least 15 of the under-16 and under-18 players selected for the camp are contracted to the Vodafone Warriors. One of them was Marata Niukore, who made his NYC debut for the Vodafone Junior Warriors against Penrith on June 29 and has been selected in the side again for this Saturday’s encounter with Parramatta; he has since been withdrawn from the camp due to his NYC commitments.
Many of the non-contracted players in both squads are also currently training with the Vodafone Warriors’ development squad and will be closely monitored in these trials with possible contract offers in mind.
Vodafone Warriors general manager football Dean Bell and experienced scout Jeff Wilson will be in Rotorua for Wednesday’s trials.
PLAYERS
Under-16s: Tarquinn Alatipi (Wellington), Josh Alioni (Southern), Tawhirimatea Boynton (Upper Central), Dylan Clarke (Upper Central), Ezekiel Cooper (Upper Central), Anthony Diaz (Counties Manukau), Taine Eason-Tipene (Akarana), Melino Fineanganofo (Akarana), Lorne Green (Upper Central), Boston Hakaroa (Akarana), Morgan Harper (Upper Central), Chanel Harris-Tavita (Akarana), Noaese Junior-Foaitua (Wellington), Kenese Kenese (Counties), Freedom Komene (Upper Central), Fa'atapu Lisati (Akarana), Rory Ferguson (Southern), Joshua Gray (Akarana), Soane Hufanga (Akarana), Kahil Johnston (Akarana), Steel Kake (Northland), Samiuela Lauhingoa (Counties Manukau), Tuteauru Maipi (Akarana), Junior Malau (Counties), Jerome Mamea (Akarana), Steven Marsters (Counties Manukau), Etene Nanai-Seturo (Akarana), Chaz Ngaha (Counties Manukau), Isaiah Papalii (Akarana), Javvier Pitovao (Akarana), Fruen Samoa (Wellington), Sebastian Rapana (Upper Central), Lewis Soosomea (Counties Manukau), Joseph Taipari (Southern), Ray Taumalolo (Counties Manukau), Enoch Tautolo (Wellington), Dylan Tavita (Akarana), Jonty Timoti (Akarana), Danny Toala (Mid Central), Emani Vaovasa (Wellington), Riley Williams (Akarana).
Under-18s: Caleb Aekins (Northland), Joseph Apikotoa (Wellington), Erin Clarke (Akarana), Arthur Crichton (Counties Manukau), Piri Croft (Northland), Luke Cummings (Wellington), Vaipouli Edmonds (Counties Manukau), Mose Esera (Akarana), Desmond Fa'afoa (Wellington), Enele Fidow (Mid Central), Ignatius Fiso (Wellington), Jaz Flavell (Upper Central), Daniel Fulop (Northland), Tumoana Halkyard (Northland), Shane Hannam (Akarana), Alfred Hunkin (Counties Manukau), Jamel Hunt (Counties Manukau), Zaylin Inu (Akarana), Zion Ioka (Akarana), Tamati Ioane-Niko (Counties Manukau), Taiapua Kapua (Upper Central), Fabien Kiri (Mid Central), Tony Matautia (Upper Central), Dre Melvin (Wellington), Marata Niukore (Counties Manukau), Jordan Pinnock (Southern), Rueben Porter (Akarana), Joseph Price (Counties Manukau), Satch Pryor (Mid Central), Connor Purcell (Akarana), David Saumolia (Wellington), Chris Sio (Akarana), Dean Smith (Akarana), Haimona Tierney (Northland), Richard Timoti (Akarana), Luke Tipene (Akarana), Ken Tofilau (Southern), Amoni Tufui (Akarana), Mao Uta (Akarana), Tiann Wilkins (Counties), Logan Yates (Counties Manukau).
