Ukuma TA'AI [
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Tue February 14, 2012
Source: www.warriors.co.nzJerome Ropati, Krisnan Inu and Ukuma Ta'ai have all been named in a 19-man squad for the Warriors final 2012 trial against the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on Saturday (5:00pm).
Ropati, about to enter his 10th NRL season, is in line to play his first match since March 27 last year after having his season ended by a knee injury against St George Illawarra in round three.
Inu and Ta'ai both played in the 26-10 win against Gold Coast on February 4 but missed last week's 22-14 victory over South Sydney, Inu turning out for the Auckland Vulcans in a trial in Auckland and Ta'ai a late defection through injury.
As well as Ropati, Inu and Ta'ai, the Vodafone Warriors will use Kiwi internationals Kevin Locke, Lewis Brown, Ben Matulino and Russell Packer as well as Pita Godinet, Alehana Mara, Sione Lousi and Glen Fisiiahi in Whangarei.
Another feature of the selection is the inclusion of Vodafone Junior Warriors back rower John Palavi, the club's 2011 Vodafone NYC Player of the Year. It means there will be seven members of the 2011 premiership-winning Vodafone Junior Warriors side on show at Toll Stadium, Palavi joined by Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Samiuela Lousi, Sio Suia Taukeiaho and Carlos Tuimavave.
Out of contention through injury are Micheal Luck, Jacob Lillyman, Sam Rapira and Steve Rapira, who will all miss the start of the season, beginning with the 'Get Even at Eden' opening round clash against Manly at Eden Park on Sunday, March 4 (see below for ticket information).
Vodafone Warriors head coach Brian McClennan told www.warriors.co.nz it was vital younger players in the squad were given the chance of more substantial match experience in the NRL environment.
"Quite a few of our senior players have trained really well and had some really solid time on the field in our trials against Gold Coast and South Sydney," he said.
"Our younger players, especially the boys who have come up from the Vodafone Junior Warriors, have had a little bit of a taste of NRL trials football but this weekend we want to make sure they all get some good game minutes under their belts."
With Lillyman and the Rapira brothers injured, McClennan will again be looking at propping options against Sunshine Coast. Apart from Matulino and Packer, the Vodafone Warriors used Sione Lousi and Ikahihifo in front row roles against the Rabbitohs. McClennan said Sione Lousi would have time there again at Toll Stadium while it's likely Palavi, Sam Lousi and Ta'ai, as well as Ikahihifo, will also spend time as front rowers.
While generally pleased with the efforts in the first two trials, McClennan was still seeking further improvements.
"We've lost some players through injury but I'm confident our players will handle that challenge," he said.
"The major challenge, though, is ensuring they stick to the systems we have put in place and play to our structures."
The Vodafone Warriors will travel to Whangarei late on Saturday morning, returning home after the game. An advance group of senior players not involved in the trial will head to Northland on Friday for a series of promotional and community appearances.
Next week the Vodafone Warriors will mix their training commitments with the club's annual Charity Golf Day at Titirangi on Monday (in support of the Shine charity), a visit to Kidz First Children's Hospital in Manukau City on Tuesday and a members-only training session and barbecue at Mount Smart Stadium on Wednesday night.
The squad for the trial against Sunshine Coast is: Lewis Brown, Glen Fisiiahi, Pita Godinet, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Krisnan Inu, Kevin Locke, Samiuela Lousi, Sione Lousi, Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, John Palavi, Ivan Penehe, Jerome Ropati, Ukuma Ta'ai, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Carlos Tuimavave.
Tue August 30, 2011
Source: www.warriors.co.nzHooker Alehana Mara and back rower Ukuma Ta'ai have been called up for the Vodafone Warriors' last match of the NRL regular season against North Queensland at Mount Smart Stadium on Saturday night.
Mara comes in for regular hooker Aaron Heremaia, who has been ruled out for up to two games with a hand injury, while Ta'ai returns from a two-match suspension replacing Elijah Taylor on the interchange bench.
Mara will be making his seventh NRL appearance of the season and his 10th in total after spending most of the year playing for the well-performed Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup. The most recent of his NRL appearances this season was against Melbourne at Mount Smart Stadium on June 26.
Ta'ai will be playing his eighth game of the year, his previous seven appearances all when he was part of a winning side. In another change, Sam Rapira is named to start in the front row while Russell Packer has been included on the bench.
On Saturday night the Vodafone Warriors will host former players in what has now become a traditional old boys' day. After the NRL match there'll be a special farewell for departing players including Lance Hohaia, Aaron Heremaia, Shaun Berrigan, Joel Moon, Brett Seymour and Jeremy Latimore as well as head coach Ivan Cleary. The match will be of special significance for Cleary as he marks his 150th game as the club's NRL coach since he started in the role at the start of the 2006 season.
The match is of critical importance for both the Vodafone Warriors and North Queensland in determining the make-up for week one finals matches. The Cowboys start the round in fifth place with the Vodafone Warriors seventh; they could both finish anywhere from fourth to seventh. The St George Illawarra Dragons (sixth) host Penrith on Friday night while Wests Tigers (fourth) are away to Cronulla later on Saturday night.
So far this season the Vodafone Warriors have won seven of the 10 games they've played at Mount Smart Stadium.
"It's a big occasion for the club on Saturday night with the old boys as special guests and the Vodafone Junior Warriors back home as the NYC minor premiers," said Cleary.
"We're looking forward to it. It'll be another major test for us coming up against a quality side like North Queensland.
"We'll need to improve for the finals after letting ourselves down in some key areas against the Dragons."
After James Maloney made his 50th NRL appearance last weekend, Moon will play his 50th game for the Vodafone Warriors this week - his 81st career appearance - while fullback Kevin Locke will be lining up for his 49th for the club.
Locke backed up his brilliant display against Penrith with another superb effort against the Dragons to earn the players' player of the day award for the second straight week. As well as scoring his 17th career try, Locke had a try assist (for Bill Tupou's try), two line breaks, 13 tackle breaks, two off loads and he made 138 metres from 14 runs.
NZ Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
7.30pm (NZ), 5.30pm (AEST), Saturday, September 3
Referees: Tony Archer And Ashley Klein
1 Kevin Locke
2 Bill Tupou
3 Joel Moon
4 Shaun Berrigan
5 Krisnan Inu
6 James Maloney
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Sam Rapira
9 Alehana Mara
10 Jacob Lillyman
11 Feleti Mateo
12 Simon Mannering [c]
13 Micheal Luck
14 Lance Hohaia
15 Russell Packer
16 Ben Matulino
17 Ukuma Ta'ai
18 Lewis Brown
Coach: Ivan Cleary
======================================================================================================
 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
10 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [04 Mar 12] L 20-26 v Manly (H). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [12 Mar 12] W 36-20 v Parramatta (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [18 Mar 12] L 18-32 v Canterbury (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [24 Mar 12] W 26-6 v Gold Coast (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [31 Mar 12] L 8-26 v Roosters (A). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [08 Apr 12] L 12-32 v Canberra (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [15 Apr 12] W 44-22 v Souths (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [25 Apr 12] L 14-32 v Melbourne (A). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [05 May 12] W 30-20 v Brisbane (H). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [12 May 12] W 30-26 v Roosters (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
10 games; [View] Round 4 [03 Apr 11] W 26-18 v Cronulla (A). [SR]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 11] W 24-12 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 11] W 18-14 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 11] W 26-18 v Panthers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 9 [08 May 11] W 34-14 v Titans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [22 May 11] W 12-6 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 11] W 20-12 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 11] W 18-6 v North Qld (H). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 11] L 10-40 v Brisbane. [BE]
[View] Finals Week 2 [16 Sep 11] W 22-20 v Wests Tigers. [SR]
======================================================================================================
2010 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
19 games; 5 tries, 20 points.
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 10] W 30-24 v Bulldogs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 6 [18 Apr 10] L 12-40 v Panthers (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 10] L 6-40 v Storm (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 8 [01 May 10] L 16-23 v Raiders (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [15 May 10] W 24-12 v Cowboys (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [23 May 10] W 26-24 v Rabbitohs (H). [SR]
[View] Round 12 [28 May 10] L 6-50 v Tigers (A). [SR]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 10] L 20-22 v Dragons (H). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [13 Jun 10] W 32-24 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 17 [04 Jul 10] W 35-6 v Eels (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [11 Jul 10] W 12-6 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 19 [17 Jul 10] W 13-6 v Storm (H). [BE]
[View] Round 20 [25 Jul 10] L 28-38 v Rabbitohs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 10] L 20-28 v Titans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [07 Aug 10] W 37-10 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 10] W 22-10 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 24 [21 Aug 10] L 16-19 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 10] W 26-12 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 10] L 16-28 v Titans. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
10 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 2 [22 Mar 09] W 26-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE]
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 09] L 10-26 v Broncos (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [05 Apr 09] L 16-22 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 5 [12 Apr 09] L 22-24 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 09] L 14-18 v Bulldogs (H). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 09] L 10-30 v Titans (H). [BE]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 09] L 4-40 v Eels (A). [SR]
[View] Round 24 [23 Aug 09] W 34-20 v Raiders (H). [SR]
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 09] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (A). [SR]
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 09] L 0-30 v Storm (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================
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Ta'ai, Ukuma
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