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Manu VATUVEI [Player Stats]

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Warriors name Vatuvei and Witt for clash against leaders
Tue June 17, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Winger Manu Vatuvei and standoff Michael Witt are back for the Vodafone Warriors' 15th-round NRL clash against the competition-leading Manly Sea Eagles at Mount Smart Stadium on Monday.

Vatuvei (22) was originally scheduled for a return last month after being sidelined with a spiral fracture of his left fibula in the Vodafone Warriors' seventh-round loss to Gold Coast in April.

He slots back into his regular left winger's spot after scoring seven tries in the first seven matches of the season.

And Witt (23) will make his first appearance at NRL level since damaging his hip flexor while attempting a penalty against Canberra on May 4. He had no issues with the hip complaint when he played for the Auckland Vulcans against Wenworthville in their New South Wales Cup clash last Saturday.

In his first eight appearances of the year, Witt scored 70 points and had a goal-kicking success rate of almost 90 per cent.

Vatuvei's return sees Aidan Kirk switching to the right wing to replace Michael Crockett while Nathan Fien moves into halfback with Grant Rovelli named as 18th man.

"Manu was a chance of playing a couple of weeks ago but we decided to hold off," said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.

"And with Michael (Witt) available again, we had to decide whether Nathan (Fien) or Grant (Rovelli) would play at halfback. Ravs has been there all season and Fieny was moved from hooker to No 6 a couple of games ago. We're giving Fieny a crack this time."

Prop Ruben Wiki will move within a one match of becoming only the 10th player in the competition's history to make 300 appearances. With game No 299 scheduled at home against the Sea Eagles, the 35-year-old Wiki, who's in his 16th and last season in the NRL, would be in line to make his landmark 300th appearance against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on June 30.

Also reaching a milestone this weekend will be a prop 14 years young than Wiki - Sam Rapira (21) will play his 50th game since his debut in 2006.

The Vodafone Warriors will have the same starting pack that faced the Cronulla Sharks last weekend while Cleary has opted for four forwards on the bench. Props Rapira and Evarn Tuimavave are joined by recalled second rower Epalahame Lauaki - who turned out for the Auckland Vulcans last weekend - and 19-year-old back rower Ben Matulino, who impressed on debut against the Sharks.

Micheal Luck, who will play his 64th consecutive NRL match since joining the Vodafone Warriors for the 2006 season, is set to become the first player to reach the 500 tackles barrier this season. His 39 tackles against the Sharks lifted him to first place on the list for most tackles with 496, an average of 38.2 tackles a game.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Sunday, June 22
2.00pm (NZ), 12:00pm (AEST)

Vodafone Warriors

1 Lance Hohaia
2 Aidan Kirk
3 Brent Tate
4 Jerome Ropati
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Michael Witt
7 Nathan Fien
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 Ian Henderson
10 Steve Price (c)
11 Simon Mannering
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck

Subs:
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Sam Rapira
18 Ben Matulino

18th Man: Grant Rovelli

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vatuvei extends stay with Warriors until end of 2011
Wed April 16, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Giant winger Manu Vatuvei, one of the NRL's most exciting players, has extended his contract with the Vodafone Warriors until the end of the 2011 season.

The 22-year-old wasn't off contract until 2009 but the club today clinched a deal that will stretch the Kiwi international's first-grade career with the Vodafone Warriors to at least eight seasons.

"We were determined to keep Manu at the Vodafone Warriors," said chief executive Wayne Scurrah.

"We value him extremely highly. He's clearly one of the most exciting players in the game today and all of our players have the greatest admiration for what he brings to the team."

Vatuvei, who has already played 11 tests for the Kiwis and 63 first-grade matches for his club, has been one of the standout performers in the first five weeks of the NRL season. With doubles against Melbourne, Parramatta and the Bulldogs, he's the equal top try scorer with six so far, boosting his career tally to 35, the ninth best in the Vodafone Warriors' history. He also tops the NRL's statistics for line breaks (9) and his tally of 35 tackle breaks is bettered only by Melbourne's Israel Folau.

"I'm not interested in playing anywhere else," said Vatuvei.

"I love it here with the boys at the Vodafone Warriors. Everyone at the club has done heaps for me and I want to do my best to pay them back.

"My team-mates are great to be around. They give me lots of support and so do Ivan (Cleary) and the other coaches."

Cleary is thrilled Vatuvei has secured a long-term future at the Vodafone Warriors.

"Manu's a really important player for our side," he said.

"He's a huge threat to any opposition at either end of the field and he's just getting better and better.

"He's under more scrutiny than probably any other player at the moment but he has handled that brilliantly. I can't say enough about the way he has developed."

Vatuvei, a product of the club's Allied Work Force development system, was less than three months past his 18th birthday when he made his first-grade debut against South Sydney in May, 2004.

By October 2005 he was in the test arena as a 19-year-old, playing a key role in the Kiwis' historic Tri Nations success. He scored two tries in the 24-0 grand final win against Australia when his opposite was his new Vodafone Warriors team-mate Brent Tate.

MANU VATUVEI
Born: March 4, 1986
Birthplace: Auckland, NZ
Position: Winger
Height: 189cm
Weight: 112kg
Junior Clubs: Otara Scorpions, Otahuhu Leopards
NRL Debuts: v South Sydney, Aussie Stadium, May 23, 2004 (Round 11)
Club Number: 115 (Vodafone Warriors)
NRL Career: 63 appearances, 2004-08
NRL Points: 140 (35 tries)
International Career: 11 tests for Kiwis, 2005-2007
Interational Points: 24 points (6 tries)
Kiwi Number: 720
Educated: Sir Edmund Hillary Collegiate (Auckland)

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Mon September 3, 2007

Warriors lose Vatuvei for rest of the season

Tue July 3, 2007

Fien to make 150th NRL appearance

======================================================================================================

2008 World Cup

New Zealand Kiwis 

======================================================================================================

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
16 games; 16 tries, 64 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 18-32 v Storm (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] W 30-16 v Eels (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] L 6-52 v Sea Eagles (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 26-20 v Knights (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] W 36-16 v Bulldogs (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] L 20-48 v Cowboys (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] L 24-36 v Gold Coast (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] L 14-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [02 Aug 08] L 16-18 v Rabbitohs (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 08] W 16-12 v Broncos (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] W 18-4 v Sharks (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 08] L 6-34 v Dragons (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 26 [06 Sep 08] W 28-6 v Eels (A). [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Finals Week 1 [14 Sep 08] W 18-15 v Storm (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (45)
[View] Finals Week 2 [19 Sep 08] W 30-13 v Roosters (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week 3 [27 Sep 08] L 6-32 v Sea Eagles. [WG] 
======================================================================================================

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
22 games; 10 tries, 40 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 07] W 34-18 v Eels (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 2 [25 Mar 07] W 24-14 v Broncos (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 3 [01 Apr 07] L 12-30 v Storm (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [08 Apr 07] L 10-13 v Sea Eagles (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 5 [15 Apr 07] W 34-14 v Cowboys (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (76th)
[View] Round 7 [29 Apr 07] W 18-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 8 [05 May 07] L 20-22 v Sharks (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 9 [12 May 07] L 18-24 v Knights (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 10 [20 May 07] L 26-30 v Tigers (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [28 May 07] L 6-30 v Eels (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 13 [10 Jun 07] L 2-4 v Storm (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 14 [16 Jun 07] W 12-2 v Sharks (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 07] W 54-14 v Panthers (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [30 Jun 07] W 22-6 v Gold Coast (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] L 12-18 v Cowboys (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [15 Jul 07] W 44-16 v Dragons (H). [WG] 
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] W 28-16 v Tigers (A). [WG] 
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 52-10 v Knights (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [05 Aug 07] D 31-31 v Roosters (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] L 24-26 v Raiders (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [26 Aug 07] W 36-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [01 Sep 07] W 24-20 v Panthers (A). [WG] 
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2007 International Test Matches

New Zealand Kiwis 
1 games; 1 tries, 4 points. 
		 [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [20 Apr 07] L 6-30 v Australia (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (68th)
======================================================================================================

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series

New Zealand Kiwis 
4 games; 1 tries, 4 points. 
		 [View] Tri-Nations Match 1 [14 Oct 06] L 18-30 v Australia (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Tri-Nations Match 2 [21 Oct 06] L 15-20 v Australia (A). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [28 Oct 06] W 18-14 v Great Britain (H). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Final [25 Nov 06] L 12-16 v Australia (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
18 games; 10 tries, 40 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 06] L 16-22 v Storm (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 06] L 14-22 v Eels (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (65th)
[View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] W 26-10 v Tigers (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (51st)
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] W 26-22 v Knights (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] L 16-22 v Dragons (A). [WG]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 34-12 v Tigers (H). [WG]
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Roosters (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [WG]
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 06] W 66-0 v Rabbitohs (A). [WG]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 28-22 v Panthers (H). [WG]
[View] Round 18 [09 Jul 06] L 18-22 v Bulldogs (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 06] L 12-20 v Eels (H). [WG]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 6-36 v Panthers (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [05 Aug 06] W 12-10 v Sharks (H). [WG]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] W 26-0 v Cowboys (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 24-20 v Storm (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] W 42-16 v Roosters (H). [WG]
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 06] L 12-36 v Broncos (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================

2005 Tri-Nations Test Series

New Zealand Kiwis 
5 games; 3 tries, 12 points. 
		 [View] Tri-Nations Match 1 [15 Oct 05] W 38-28 v Australia (A). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 2 [21 Oct 05] L 26-28 v Australia (H). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [29 Oct 05] W 42-26 v Great Britain (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Tri-Nations Match 5 [12 Nov 05] L 12-38 v Great Britain (A). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Final [26 Nov 05] W 24-0 v Australia. [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
======================================================================================================

2005 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
12 games; 9 tries, 36 points. 
		 [View] Round 3 [27 Mar 05] L 22-32 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 05] W 46-14 v Souths (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (53rd)
[View] Round 6 [17 Apr 05] W 30-26 v Knights (A). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t (49th, 61st)
[View] Round 8 [01 May 05] L 14-16 v Panthers (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (61st)
[View] Round 9 [07 May 05] L 24-28 v Sharks (A). [WG]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 05] L 6-10 v Roosters (H). [WG]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] W 34-16 v Souths (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (57th)
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] L 18-32 v Dragons (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (24th)
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] W 30-18 v Broncos (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (64th)
[View] Round 17 [02 Jul 05] L 16-24 v Cowboys (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (19th)
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 05] L 4-16 v Knights (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (17th)
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 05] W 22-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================

2004 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 

======================================================================================================

Vatuvei, Manu

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