Vodafone Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei takes one of the NRL's hottest try-scoring streaks into the club's first home game of the 2010 season against Cronulla at Mount Smart Stadium tomorrow night.

Vatuvei, just turned 24 and already in his seventh NRL season, began his latest campaign with a double in last Sunday's 18-24 loss to Gold Coast, lifting his career tally to an outstanding 60 tries in 95 matches.

Even more impressively he has now scored 31 tries in his last 37 NRL appearances dating back to the opening round in 2008 when he started with a brace against Melbourne. He is now second-equal on the Vodafone Warriors' all-time list with Francis Meli (60 in 110 games) behind Stacey Jones (77 in 261 games).

His overall record ranks him up near the top of the list among the NRL's current try-scoring machines. Of those players who have played 75 NRL games or more, not too many have a better strike rate than Vatuvei's one try every 1.58 games. And that's despite the fact Vatuvei's career has coincided with some difficult seasons for the club with just two trips to the finals in 2007 and 2008.

An exception is Manly fullback Brett Stewart with 98 tries in 118 games (a try every 1.20 games) while Parramatta's Timana Tahu, now back in rugby league, has 102 tries in 144 games (a try every 1.41 games). Two noted try scorers barely ahead of Vatuvei are Melbourne's Billy Slater with a try every 1.55 games (102 in 158) and South Sydney's Nathan Merritt with 87 tries in 136 games (1.56).

Other outside backs with try-scoring reputations are inferior including superstar Lote Tuqiri, who marked his return to rugby league with his 57th try in his 100th match (a try ever 1.75 games) when Wests Tigers beat Manly. Others include Justin Hodges 75 tries in 165 games (2.20), ex-Melbourne now Bulldogs winger Steve Turner 61 tries in 108 games (1.77), Canberra's Joel Monaghan 86 tries in 156 games (1.81), Parramatta's Luke Burt 101 tries in 199 games (1.97), his team-mate Eric Grothe 66 tries in 135 games (2.04), Wests Tigers winger Taniela Tuiaki 42 tries in 78 games (1.86), Manly's Michael Robertson 62 in 163 games (2.62), North Queensland's Matt Bowen 101 tries in 184 games (1.82), Gold Coast's Mat Rogers 101 tries in 180 games (1.78) and Parramatta's Jarryd Hayne 49 tries in 86 games (1.76).

Some of the younger breed have been impressive so far, like Brisbane's Israel Folau (54 tries in 72 games), Bulldogs centre Josh Morris (44 in 68), his St George Illawarra-based brother Brett (45 in 62) and Penrith's Michael Jennings (44 in 65).

While Vatuvei commands attention and respect for his ability, he's also about to reach a big milestone in his career when the Vodafone Warriors are at home to Penrith on April 18. On that day the 2008 International Winger of the Year and World Cup winner is set to become the 18th player to appear in 100 NRL games for the Vodafone Warriors (following Micheal Luck, who reaches 100 tomorrow night).

Apart from Luck's 100th game and the possibility of Vatuvei extending his try-scoring run, the big feature will be Simon Mannering's debut as Vodafone Warriors captain.

Also back in the squad after missing the Gold Coast trip is fullback Wade McKinnon, who'll play his 49th game for the club. He has again been listed on a five-man bench for the Cronulla match.