Shaun Johnson has been ruled out of the Warriors’ Indigenous Round clash with Sydney Roosters at Mount Smart Stadium, but Issac Luke is a shock inclusion for the second week in a row despite picking up an apparently serious shoulder injury in last Saturday’s win over Wests Tigers.
Adam Blair will also take his place at lock after leaving the field with an ankle problem against the Tigers.
Mason Lino fills the halfback breach left by Johnson for the fourth time this season. Lino notched his maiden career win in the Warriors’ 30-6 upset of the Roosters in Sydney in Round 4, outplaying the great Cooper Cronk.
The 17 is otherwise unchanged, though Simon Mannering is listed in the second-row despite dropping back to the bench in a late swap with teenager Isaiah Papali’i on the weekend.
Jazz Tevaga, who missed the Tigers encounter with injury after playing six straight games off the bench, has been included in the reserves and would appear the most likely to join the interchange if Luke does pull out.
“We gave Issac every chance to play last week after injuring his knee against Melbourne and he came through,” Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said.
“Once again, we’ll give him every opportunity this week.”
Should Luke fail to make his second miraculous recovery in the space of a week, Karl Lawton would almost certainly start at hooker after a dynamic two-try showing at dummy-half off the bench against the Tigers. If Tevaga is not fit, Sam Cook is another hooker/utility option for the interchange.
Secure your tickets early for this special #NRLIndigenous Round clash against the Roosters this Saturday. #LetsGoneWarriors
[Tīkiti] https://t.co/aSTtaozQaF pic.twitter.com/aYWOgR7ZMh
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) May 7, 2018
WARRIORS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
5.00pm, Saturday, May 12, 2018
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
WARRIORS
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 DAVID FUSITU’A
3 PETA HIKU
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 BLAKE GREEN
7 MASON LINO
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 AGNATIUS PAASI
11 SIMON MANNERING
12 TOHU HARRIS
13 ADAM BLAIR
Interchange
14 KARL LAWTON
15 SAM LISONE
16 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
17 JAMES GAVET
18 SAM COOK
20 JAZZ TEVAGA
21 ALBERT VETE
22 ANTHONY GELLING
The kōrero (story) behind our Toa (Warrior) indigenous jersey by Canterbury of NZ #NRLIndigenous #LetsGoneWarriors
[hoko ā-ipurangi / buy online] https://t.co/8iBbAHWzh6 pic.twitter.com/3SIEdBvgJ3
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) May 7, 2018
Categories: Team News + Stats, WARRIORS NEWS
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