Vatuvei to make injury return

Manu Vatuvei will mark his return to action in Saturday’s trial match against Parramatta after recovering from a broken arm.

Vatuvei, 24, suffered the injury early in New Zealand‘s opening Four Nations match against England in October.

But Vatuvei, who is nicknamed ‘The Beast’, has been named in the squad by coach Ivan Cleary for the game against the Eels in Rotorua.

Meanwhile, brothers Sam and Steve Rapira will line-up for the first time together since appearing for the junior Kiwis in 2005.

The pair were reunited when the Warriors signed back-rower Steve from North Queensland in May last year.

For coach Cleary, the match is an opportunity for the squad to improve on last week’s performance at Newcastle, which saw them draw 22-22.

“We’ve got four matches to look at different players and combinations and this week helps more in that regard,” said Cleary.

“While last week’s game was very much about the occasion, there were aspects of the performance which weren’t so pleasing, especially the way we finished the game.”

Warriors Squad                                                   

LEWIS BROWN
GLEN FISIIAHI
PITA GODINET
BEN HENRY
AARON HEREMAIA
KRISNAN INU
JEREMY LATIMORE
JACOB LILLYMAN
KEVIN LOCKE
SIONE LOUSI
MICHEAL LUCK (c)
JAMES MALONEY
ALEHANA MARA
BEN MATULINO
RUSSELL PACKER
SAM RAPIRA
STEVE RAPIRA
MATT ROBINSON
JEROME ROPATI
UKUMA TA’AI
ELIJAH TAYLOR
MANU VATUVEI