LUKE TO START AS LAWTON NAMED ON EXTENDED BENCH

Auckland, New Zealand, March 26, 2019 – Issac Luke has been named at hooker while Karl Lawton has been included on an extended bench for the Vodafone Warriors ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Sea Eagles at AMI Stadium in Christchurch.

The Vodafone Warriors will head into the “away” game looking to bounce back after a loss to the Wests Tigers last Sunday.

All 17 players who took the field at Campbelltown have been named in this week’s line up with Lawton’s inclusion in the place of Nate Roache the only change to the 21-man squad named by coach Stephen Kearney last Tuesday.

Roache was a late withdrawal from the Tigers game after suffering from calf tightness at the captains’ run.

“Last week’s performance against the Tigers was disappointing,” Kearney said.

“I’m expecting our players to respond accordingly and Saturday’s game against Manly gives us a good chance to do that.

“Nate’s still got a bit of tightness in his calf so we won’t be risking him this week.”

Although he has been charged by the NRL judiciary for dangerous contact on Tigers forward Mikaele Thomas, prop Sam Lisone has been included on the Vodafone Warriors’ bench.

He is pleading not guilty and his hearing will take place at NRL headquarters in Sydney at 9pm (NZT) this evening.

If he fails to overturn the charge, Lisone will be sidelined for two games.

Likewise, Lawton, who played for the club’s Canterbury Cup NSW team last weekend, has been charged with tripping. After also pleading not guilty, his hearing will take place on Wednesday night.

If found guilty, Lawton will miss one game.

Should either player be ruled out, the Vodafone Warriors will be able to replace them in the 21-man squad for Saturday’s game against the Sea Eagles.

Manly, who are officially the home team this weekend, will head into the game having yet to record a win this season after losses to the Tigers and Roosters.

2019 NRL

MANLY SEA EAGLES v VODAFONE WARRIORS

5pm, Saturday, March 30, 2019

AMI Stadium, Christchurch

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)

2 DAVID FUSITU’A

3 PETA HIKU

4 SOLOMONE KATA

5 KEN MAUMALO

6 ADAM KEIGHRAN

7 BLAKE GREEN

8 AGNATIUS PAASI

9 ISSAC LUKE

10 BUNTY AFOA

11 ADAM BLAIR

12 TOHU HARRIS

13 LACHLAN BURR

Interchange:

14 JAZZ TEVAGA

15 SAM LISONE

16 LEESON AH MAU

17 ISAIAH PAPALI’I

18 GERARD BEALE

20 LIGI SAO

21 KARL LAWTON

22 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA

HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY