17 Jun 2015

Tomkins still out, Origin players back

6:25 am on 17 June 2015

Origin representatives Jacob Lillyman and Ryan Hoffman have been named in an otherwise unchanged Warriors starting line-up for Saturday's 15th-round NRL game at Gold Coast.

Former Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins.

Former Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Queensland front rower Lillyman and New South Wales second rower Hoffman go head to head again in Origin II at the Melbourne Cricket Ground tonight.

The pair have a total of more than 450 NRL appearances between them with Lillyman eyeing his 199th career game this weekend, leaving him set to achieve his 200-game milestone in the Warriors' 16th-round clash against Canberra at the end of the month.

Their replacements against the Roosters - Albert Vete and Raymond Faitala-Mariner - have both been named on a five-man bench.

Fullback Sam Tomkins hasn't been named in the squad this week after being listed to start in the last two matches against South Sydney and the Roosters.

There was optimism each time that he would be able to return after taking another blow to his injured knee in his comeback game against Newcastle on May 31st but ultimately he was ruled out and replaced by rookie Tuimoala Lolohea. This week Lolohea is named to start.

Apart from Lillyman and Hoffman replacing Vete and Faitala-Mariner, the starting line-up named to face the Titans is the same as the one used in the loss to the Roosters.

There are changes on the bench, though, with hooker SilivaHavili recalled after being used in the Newcastle and South Sydney matches but returning to the NSW Cup last week.

Apart from Havili, Faitala-Mariner and Vete, the other players on the bench are Sebastine Ikahihifo and Charlie Gubb.

Last Saturday night it was Manu Vatuvei claiming a unique place in the competition's history when he brought up his 10th try of the season giving him 10 tries or more in 10 consecutive seasons.

This week not only does Lillyman play his 199th game but second rower Bodene Thompson plays his 99th career match (against his former club).

The Titans stopped a run of eight straight losses to the Warriors when they won 32-28 at Mount Smart Stadium on Anzac Day.

The overall record is 10-7 in the Warriors' favour while they have won five out of eight on the Gold Coast.