Russell PACKER [
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Wed February 8, 2012
Source: www.warriors.co.nzWinger Manu Vatuvei, prop Russell Packer and fullback Kevin Locke have been named in a 22-man Warriors squad to travel to Australia for Saturday night's second NRL trial against South Sydney at Coffs Harbour.
Packer and Locke, both with the Kiwis for last year's Four Nations, missed the 26-10 win against Gold Coast at North Harbour Stadium but Vodafone Warriors head coach Brian McClennan today included them for the second of the club's three pre-season trials ahead of the season-opener against Manly at Eden Park on March 4.
He also named Vatuvei, who came through unscathed after scoring the match-winning try for the NRL All Stars against the Indigenous All Stars in Robina last Saturday night.
Among those not travelling are veterans Jerome Ropati, Micheal Luck and Jacob Lillyman. Luck is recovering from shoulder surgery while Lillyman is facing three months on the sideline after tearing his right bicep from the tendon early in the match against the Titans. Ropati is continuing his rehabilitation from knee surgery last year.
With Lillyman out, Sione Lousi, Steve Rapira and Ukuma Ta'ai are in contention for the vacancy created by the Queensland State of Origin's enforced absence.
"Being the second of three trials, we've got the opportunity to look at some more options for this trial," McClennan told www.warriors.co.nz.
"We had the chance to give 25 of our squad a run last weekend. It was really pleasing the young boys had the experience of playing at this level."
Last weekend new captain Simon Mannering, hooker Nathan Friend, second rower Feleti Mateo and halfback Shaun Johnson played only the first half against Gold Coast. James Maloney was also taken off at halftime but returned for the final 20-minute term.
Of the players in the squad from the 2011 Vodafone Junior Warriors, Konrad Hurrell, Ben Henry, Carlos Tuimavave and Sebastine Ikahihifo are being given another opportunity this weekend.
The Vodafone Warriors' final trial is against Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on Saturday, February 18. They then have a weekend off before their 'Get Even at Eden' grand final rematch at Eden Park on March 4.
The squad for the trial against South Sydney is: Lewis Brown, Glen Fisiiahi, Nathan Friend, Pita Godinet, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Shaun Johnson, Kevin Locke, Sione Lousi, James Maloney, Simon Mannering (c), Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Sam Rapira, Steve Rapira, Ukuma Ta'ai, Elijah Taylor, Carlos Tuimavave, Bill Tupou, Manu Vatuvei.
Mon October 31, 2011
New Zealand Coach Stephen Kearney will be able to consider all 23 players for the first time on tour when the Kiwis face Wales in the first match of Saturday's Four Nations double header at Wembley Stadium in London.
The Kiwis arrived at their London base - the Hilton Hotel in Kensington - ahead of their clash against the tournament's lowest-ranked side (England will meet Australia in the feature match).
In the first two internationals of this end of season campaign, Kearney was without the suspended Adam Blair, one of his most experienced forwards, for both Tests against Australia. And last Friday night prop Russell Packer, who made his debut in Newcastle on October 16, was also suspended.
With those two players available again and the other 21 players all fit, Kearney will have his full complement of players to choose from for a match the defending Four Nations champions must win to stay in contention for a place in the final at Elland Road on November 19. The Welsh slumped to a 4-42 loss to England in their opening match in Leigh yesterday (Saturday).
"It's helpful having everyone available for selection," said Kearney.
"But, no matter who plays this week, a priority against Wales will be trying to find a way to start our games better. We need to learn from what happened against the Australians last Friday night and also in Newcastle when we weren't able to start the way we wanted."
When the Kiwis started their tour, more than a third of the players were yet to play a Test. In Newcastle Kevin Locke, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Gerard Beale, Russell Packer and Alex Glenn were all handed their debuts with Locke, Faifai Loa, Beale and Glenn all backing up in Warrington last Friday night while Packer was banned.
Of the eight rookies named in the original squad, Kevin Proctor (Melbourne), Elijah Taylor (Warriors) and Bill Tupou (Warriors) are yet to make their international debuts but come into contention this week. Taylor was 18th man against the Kangaroos in Newcastle and Proctor was 18th man on Friday night.
While the Kiwis are in London, they'll be able to explore the city, having time off tomorrow (Monday) and on Tuesday. There'll also be major events at three of London's major landmarks.
After a conditioning session before leaving Liverpool this morning, the Kiwis will return to full training on Wednesday with a field run at the Wasps Rugby Club, where Wales coach Warren Gatland was once in charge and where Great Britain and Wigan rugby league legend Shaun Edwards is now coach. Among the club's current squad are former All Black Ross Filipo and ex-Hurricanes star Riki Flutey, who has since played for both England and the British and Irish Lions.
On Wednesday evening the Kiwis will be at the Tower of London for the Rugby League International Federation's annual awards dinner while, on Thursday, the Rugby Football League will stage a photo call and media conference at the famous Hard Rock Cafe. The coaches and two players from each of the four teams will be present to promote the Four Nations double header.
And on Friday the Kiwis, along with the other three teams, will have some precious time training on Wembley's hallowed turf. The teams have been given just half an hour each to run on the ground.
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 2012 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
11 games; [View] Round 1 [04 Mar 12] L 20-26 v Manly (H). [PR]
[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). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [15 Apr 12] W 44-22 v Souths (H). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [25 Apr 12] L 14-32 v Melbourne (A). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [05 May 12] W 30-20 v Brisbane (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [12 May 12] W 30-26 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [18 May 12] L 22-24 v Wests Tigers (A). [PR]
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2011 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
25 games; [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 11] L 18-24 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 11] L 12-20 v Wests Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [27 Mar 11] L 12-25 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [03 Apr 11] W 26-18 v Cronulla (A). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 11] L 10-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [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). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 11] W 25-16 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [22 May 11] W 12-6 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 11] L 6-13 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 11] L 22-26 v Wests Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 11] L 10-30 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 11] L 8-16 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [08 Jul 11] W 22-6 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 11] W 36-12 v Canterbury (H). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [24 Jul 11] W 48-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [31 Jul 11] W 29-10 v Canberra (H). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 11] L 20-21 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 11] W 20-12 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 11] W 26-12 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [28 Aug 11] L 22-26 v Dragons (A). [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. [PR]
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2011 International Test Matches
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Bill Kelly Cup [16 Oct 11] L 6-42 v Australia (A). [PR]
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2011 Four Nations Test Series
New Zealand
1 games; [View] Round 3 [12 Nov 11] L 6-28 v England (A). [PR]
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2010 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
23 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 10] L 18-24 v Titans (A). [BE]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 10] W 30-16 v Sharks (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 10] W 48-16 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [04 Apr 10] L 6-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [10 Apr 10] W 30-24 v Bulldogs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 10] L 6-40 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 8 [01 May 10] L 16-23 v Raiders (H). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 10] W 24-12 v Cowboys (H). [BE]
[View] Round 11 [23 May 10] W 26-24 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [28 May 10] L 6-50 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 10] L 20-22 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [13 Jun 10] W 32-24 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 10] W 20-18 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [04 Jul 10] W 35-6 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 18 [11 Jul 10] W 12-6 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [17 Jul 10] W 13-6 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [25 Jul 10] L 28-38 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 10] L 20-28 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [07 Aug 10] W 37-10 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 10] W 22-10 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [21 Aug 10] L 16-19 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [04 Sep 10] W 26-12 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [10 Sep 10] L 16-28 v Titans. [PR]
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2009 NYC Toyota Cup
New Zealand Warriors
3 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 16 [27 Jun 09] W 32-10 v Titans (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 17 [03 Jul 09] L 18-50 v Broncos (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [23 Aug 09] W 28-24 v Raiders (H). [BE]
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2009 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
21 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 09] W 26-18 v Eels (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [22 Mar 09] W 26-24 v Sea Eagles (A). [SR]
[View] Round 3 [28 Mar 09] L 10-26 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [05 Apr 09] L 16-22 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [12 Apr 09] L 22-24 v Knights (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 09] W 17-16 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 7 [25 Apr 09] D 14-14 v Storm (A). [BE]
[View] Round 8 [03 May 09] L 11-12 v Dragons (A). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [17 May 09] L 12-34 v Cowboys (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [24 May 09] L 12-38 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [31 May 09] W 14-0 v Tigers (H). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [07 Jun 09] L 10-18 v Sharks (A). [BE]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 09] W 13-0 v Knights (H). [BE]
[View] Round 18 [12 Jul 09] L 14-18 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 19 [19 Jul 09] W 30-24 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 20 [26 Jul 09] L 4-29 v Dragons (H). [BE]
[View] Round 21 [01 Aug 09] D 32-32 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 09] L 10-30 v Titans (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [15 Aug 09] L 4-40 v Eels (A). [BE]
[View] Round 25 [30 Aug 09] L 20-40 v Bulldogs (A). [BE]
[View] Round 26 [05 Sep 09] L 0-30 v Storm (H). [BE]
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2008 NYC Toyota Cup
New Zealand Warriors
19 games; 4 tries, 16 points.
[View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 22-32 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] L 22-26 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] W 22-14 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] D 26-26 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] D 24-24 v Cowboys (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] W 36-28 v Gold Coast (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] W 38-10 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [29 Jun 08] L 34-45 v Tigers (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [27 Jul 08] W 36-12 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [02 Aug 08] W 26-20 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [09 Aug 08] L 12-32 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [16 Aug 08] W 35-6 v Sharks (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [24 Aug 08] W 32-8 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [31 Aug 08] L 28-30 v Panthers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 26 [06 Sep 08] D 24-24 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 1 [14 Sep 08] W 47-20 v Dragons (H). [PR]
[View] Finals Week 2 [19 Sep 08] W 38-4 v Panthers. [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Finals Week 3 [27 Sep 08] L 26-28 v Broncos. [PR]
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2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
Canberra Raiders
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2008 NRL Telstra Premiership
New Zealand Warriors
5 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 8 [04 May 08] W 14-6 v Raiders (H). [BE]
[View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [25 May 08] L 12-38 v Roosters (H). [BE]
[View] Round 12 [31 May 08] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [BE]
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE]
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Packer, Russell
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