Words by Kylie Knight
COVID-19, illness and injury have affected the Vodafone Warriors’ selection plans for a triple milestone 18th-round encounter with the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium in Sydney on Friday (7.55pm kick-off AEST; 9.55pm NZT).
Experienced winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (COVID-19), rookie half Ronald Volkman (virus) and back rower Bayley Sironen (fractured eye socket) have all been ruled out after helping the Vodafone Warriors to their 22-2 homecoming win over the Wests Tigers at Mount Smart Stadium on July 3.
Interim head coach Stacey Jones has also been isolating after a positive Covid test. It’s yet to be determined whether he will be able to join the team in Sydney.
Watene-Zelezniak’s absence means 2021 rookie winger Edward Kosi will be back in the NRL side for the first time since the Anzac Day loss to Melbourne.
The 23-year-old has been performing impressively for feeder club Redcliffe in the Hostplus Cup in Queensland helping the side to a seven-match unbeaten run. Kosi has scored seven tries in his past five matches and is averaging almost 160m a game so far this season.
Volkman, unable to train this week as he battles a virus, has been replaced at standoff by Chanel Harris-Tavita.
And Sironen, injured against the Tigers, is replaced on the interchange by Jack Murchie, who was a late scratching from the Mount Smart match with a leg injury.
Back at fullback is Reece Walsh after missing the homecoming win following a positive COVID-19 test.
There’s a shuffle in the starting forward pack with captain Tohu Harris relinquishing the #12 jersey to be listed as a starting prop in #10 alongside Addin Fonua-Blake. Jazz Tevaga, who has been selected in #10 the past five matches, reverts to his favoured role at loose forward in #13.
Magic moments for trio
Friday night’s match will serve as a milestone celebration for three players.
Chanel Harris-Tavita and Adam Pompey will make their 50th first-grade appearances. Each debuted in 2019.
And second rower Aitken (27) joins the competition’s 150-game club in his 29th outing as a Vodafone Warrior after playing 121 times for St George Illawarra from 2015-2020.
Harris-Tavita produced an outstanding player of the day display after being called in to fill the fullback’s position in the win over the Wests Tigers on July 3. As well as scoring a try, he made 153m from 17 runs while he had a line-break and four tackle-breaks.
Pompey was a late inclusion for the Mount Smart Stadium homecoming, coming into the side when Aitken was moved back to the second row after Jack Murchie was ruled out with a leg injury. He retains his place in the centres against the Eels while Aitken starts in the back row for the 15th time this season.
The Vodafone Warriors, who marked their homecoming with the club’s 300th victory, have a 5-5 record in their last 10 clashes against the Eels.
VODAFONE WARRIORS TEAM LIST
1 REECE WALSH
2 MARCELO MONTOYA
3 JESSE ARTHARS
4 ADAM POMPEY
5 EDWARD KOSI
6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE
9 WAYDE EGAN
10 TOHU HARRIS (c)
11 EUAN AITKEN
12 JOSH CURRAN
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Extended bench:
14 FREDDY LUSSICK
15 BUNTY AFOA
16 AARON PENE
17 JACK MURCHIE
18 ELIESA KATOA
20 ROCCO BERRY
21 DAEJARN ASI
22 PRIDE PETTERSON-ROBATI
23 JACKSON FREI
Head coach | STACEY JONES
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