League: Junior Warriors retain winning team

The Junior Warriors are set to field an unchanged line-up for the third straight week when they face Parramatta in their NYC preliminary final at ANZ Stadium tomorrow.

Coach Stacey Jones will rely on the same 17 players used in their two previous finals wins over the Sydney Roosters (44-30) and Newcastle Knights (23-16).

Co-captain Mason Lino has the chance to edge closer to reaching two NYC points-scoring milestones in what is his third and final season in the Under-20s competition.

Lino is sitting on 189 points from 10 tries, 74 goals and a field goal, and looking at topping 200 points in a season for the first time.

After scoring 144 points in 2012 and 147 in 2013, his career total is 480 in 60 games, the 500-point mark within reach if the Junior Warriors can continue their finals winning run.

Prop Sam Lisone also has a personal milestone, playing his 49th game. Lisone collected the double at the club's awards last week, named the NYC Players' Player of the Year as well as the supreme NYC Player of the Year.

His display against the Knights was exceptional, making 210m from 12 high-quality runs featuring four tackle breaks, two offloads and a line break while he also made 28 tackles.

At fullback again this week is Brad Abbey, who made good progress after retiring with a hip injury last weekend.

The 17-year-old was named the NYC Rookie of the Year after appearing in all 26 matches this season to top the try-scoring list with 14.

After playing at Allianz Stadium in the finals' first two weeks, the Junior Warriors move to ANZ Stadium this week, to play the curtain-raiser to the NRL preliminary final between Penrith and Canterbury.

The Eels beat the Junior Warriors in both regular season encounters between the two sides, romping to a 50-24 win in the first round and scoring a last-minute try for a 22-19 victory at Mt Smart Stadium in July.

Parramatta, third at the end of the season, went to the preliminary finals after beating second-placed Brisbane 32-26 in week one of the playoffs.


Junior Warriors: Brad Abbey, Ngataua Hukatai, Nathaniel Roache, Solomone Kata, Metia Lisati, Tuimoala Lolohea, Mason Lino, Sam Lisone, Kurt Robinson, Kouma Samson, Marata Niukore, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Jazz Tevaga, James Bell, Toafofoa Sipley, Ken Maumalo, Iulio Afoa, Ofahiki Ogden.


 

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