NRL: Warriors unchanged against Canberra

Kevin Locke of the Warriors is tackled. Photo / Getty Images

Coach Ivan Cleary today named an unchanged New Zealand Warriors line-up to face Canberra in Auckland on Sunday in a match between two sides fresh from impressive wins in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Utility Pita Godinet, who made his NRL debut in the Warriors' 48-16 victory over South Sydney as a late replacement for the injured Lance Hohaia, retains his spot on the bench.

Godinet, 23, scored the last of the Warriors' nine tries against the Rabbitohs as the Auckland-based club made it three wins in a row to consolidate sixth spot on the table.

Over the past three weeks, Cleary has gone for consistency in selection, with the only changes forced by injury to Lewis Brown and Hohaia.

Brown's ankle problem led to the recall a fortnight ago of centre Joel Moon, who grabbed two tries against Souths and went on to be named the players' player of the day.

The win over the Rabbitohs was the Warriors' biggest of the year and also featured a hat-trick to winger Manu Vautvei, who took his season's tally to eight in 11 matches and his career total to a club-record extending 86 in 124 appearances.

Canberra, meanwhile, have been boosted by their 24-19 upset over defending champions St George Illawarra last night.

Down 18-6 down at halftime and then 19-18 after Dragon Jamie Soward landed a 79th minute field goal, the Raiders snatched victory in dramatic fashion, Josh Dugan scoring from a Josh McCrone grubber kick with 20 seconds to go.

That result lifted Canberra to 13th on the table, six points outside the top eight but with still a chance of making the playoffs if they can win their six remaining fixtures.

New Zealand Warriors: Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou, Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Shaun Johnson, Russell Packer, Aaron Heremaia, Jacob Lillyman, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (captain), Micheal Luck.

Interchange: Pita Godinet, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, Elijah Taylor.

- NZPA