NRL: Vatuvei brings up double ton for Warriors

Reporter·NZ Herald·

7 Apr, 2015 06:48 AM2 mins to read

Manu Vatuvei is just the third player to appear in 200 games for the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Manu Vatuvei will make his 200th NRL appearance for the Warriors when they host Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday.

The veteran winger becomes just the third player to appear in 200 games for the club, joining Stacey Jones (261) and captain Simon Mannering (217).

Now in his 12th consecutive NRL campaign - another club record - 'The Beast' is also on track for two other major milestones.

With his third try of the season in last night's loss to Melbourne, he has 138 career tries, just two short of joining Nigel Vagana on 140 tries (Vagana scored his in 240 games), the most by a New Zealander in the competition.

And he needs seven more tries this year for the unprecedented achievement of scoring 10 or more tries in 10 consecutive seasons.

After returning from Melbourne, Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden has initially named a largely unchanged line-up for their third home game of the year.

"Manu's 200th game is a massive achievement, a really special moment not just for him but for the club and for everyone who supports the Warriors and the game of rugby league," he said.

"Playing 200 games for one club only doesn't happen too often and what Manu has done for us and for the game can't be overstated.

"He stands for all the values we like our players to aspire to. As a player and a person he is one of best and we'd really love people to turn out in big numbers to honour and support him. He certainly deserves it."

Of the line-up used in the 14-30 loss to the Storm, the only change sees Albert Vete back on the interchange with Dominique Peyroux listed as 18th man. Peyroux was on the bench in Melbourne but did not take the field.

Ben Matulino, Thomas Leuluai, Jacob Lillyman, Ryan Hoffman, Bodene Thompson and captain Simon Mannering have been named as the starting forwards for the fifth consecutive week; along with bench forwards Nathan Friend and Sam Lisone.

Warriors: 1. Tuimoala Lolohea, 2. Jonathan Wright, 3. Konrad Hurrell. 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Manu Vatuvei, 6. Chad Townsend, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. Jacob Lillyman, 9. Thomas Leuluai, 10. Ben Matulino, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering (c).