Manu’s frustrations continue
RUGBY LEAGUE: Manu Vatuvei has already had his fair share of challenges this season and it doesn’t appear to be getting any easier.
Despite being named to play the Panthers tomorrow, the veteran winger is nursing a knee complaint that saw him leave the field in the second half of last week’s golden point defeat to Canberra, continuing a campaign that has been disrupted by off-field issues and niggling injuries.
Of the Warriors’ 18 matches this season, the 30-year-old has appeared in just half of those while failing to see out the 80 minutes on four occasions.
Three of the games he missed came in the wake of the prescription drugs and energy drinks saga in May, but he has also been dogged by rib, hamstring and now a knee problem which he will have to manage for the rest of the year.
Vatuvei is limiting his training load this week and is hopeful of taking on Panthers.
However, he admits he has to do a better job of listening to his body.
‘‘It does get frustrating but I’ve just got to do what I’ve got to do,’’ Vatuvei said of his injury woes.
‘‘If I feel I can play the whole 80 I’ll put myself in there but if not I don’t want go in there just to play the eighth-placed 40 or 60 minutes, that’s not what my position does - I play a whole 80.’’
As well as Vatuvei’s fitness concerns, back-rower Bodene Thompson (ankle) and prop Albert Vete (hamstring) remain sidelined, although coach Andrew Mcfadden said both players were close to returning.
Should Vatuvei take the field, he will come up against a familiar face in Panthers teen sensation Nathan Cleary, son of former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.
The 18-year-old halfback has been a revelation since making his debut against the Storm in round 13, impressing with his poise under pressure.
Nathan was a regular at Warriors’ training during his dad’s tenure at Mt Smart and Vatuvei has been blown away by his rapid rise.
‘‘After training Nathan used to go and kick goals with his dad,’’ he said. ‘‘It makes me feel really old right now seeing him but he’s growing up to be a lot like his dad.’’