Vodafone Warriors acting head coach Andrew McFadden has marked his appointment by making a number of key changes for Sunday's sixth-round NRL clash against Canterbury-Bankstown at Eden Park (4.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: SKYCITY).
Veteran Thomas Leuluai comes in at standoff for his first start of the year, Ngani Laumape returns to the NRL for the first time this season on the right wing and hooker Siliva Havili is set to become Vodafone Warrior No 190 after being named to make his debut from the bench.
In another starting line-up change Sebastine Ikahihifo is named at loose forward while utility Dominique Peyroux will also make his first NRL appearance of the year from the interchange and two other 2014 New South Wales Cup regulars - prop Charlie Gubb and David Bhana - are included on an extended bench.
The selection changes mean standoff Chad Townsend and loose forward Feleti Mateo start for the club's New South Wales Cup team against the Bulldogs. That match is the first of another tripleheader kicking off at 11.40am followed by the NYC encounter between the Vodafone Junior Warriors and Canterbury-Bankstown at 1.40pm before the feature attraction at 4.00pm.
After being named Vodafone Warriors acting head coach yesterday, McFadden said he wouldn't be afraid to make tough calls.