VODAFONE WARRIORS v ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
4.00pm, Sunday, July 26

WARRIORS: Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke, Jerome Ropati, Joel Moon, Manu Vatuvei, Isaac John, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (c), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Patrick Ah Van, Lewis Brown, Lance Hohaia, Jacob Lillyman, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal (two to be omitted.)

DRAGONS: Darius Boyd, Brett Morris, Beau Scott, Matt Cooper, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (c), Justin Poore, Nathan Fien, Michael Weyman, Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Neville Costigan. Interchange: Dan Hunt, Matt Prior, Luke Priddis, Jarrod Saffy, Jeremy Smith, Chase Stanley, Jon Green (three to be omitted)

Referees: Gavin Badger, Ashley Klein

Warriors NRL squad has been strengthened for round 20 of the NRL against league leaders St George Illawarra with the return of Captain Steve Price and Kevin Locke.

After being knocked out in Queensland’s State of Origin loss Price returns for this weekend’s clash at the Mount Smart Stadium on Sunday. With Price’s 90th cap for Warriors, Russel Packer and Patrick Ah Van are both moved to the bench.

Other changes include back rower Ben Matulino making the starting line-up in place of Jacob Lillyman who also rides the bench.

Last week’s win against the Roosters as well as their greater than usual points total will have the Warriors NRL spirits high. However the dragons are a hefty challenge and the Warriors will need to be at their best for a shot at winning against the league leaders.

Ian Henderson is another man reaching a milestone making this Sunday his 50th game in the NRL and 42nd for the Vodafone Warriors. His first 8 games in the NRL were against last weekend’s opposition, the Roosters.

The last Dragons and Warriors NRL meeting meeting lead to an very tight 12-11 score with the Dragons just snatching the win.

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