Warriors stick with trial team
The Warriors could go into their first game of the season without experienced players Bodene Thompson and Manu Vatuvei.
The players are both recovering from injuries and while Thompson is on an extended interchange bench, Vatuvei is missing from the 21 for Sunday’s game against the Knights at Mt Smart Stadium and will play in the NSW Cup team.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has stuck with the same team that defeated the Titans 26-6 in their trial game in Palmerston North on February 19.
That means Ken Maumalo will start on one of the wings, with Bunty Afoa playing in the second row.
Kearney has chosen to go With Albert Vete and Charlie Gubb as his starting props, while Sam Lisone and Jacob Lillyman will be given the No 15 and 16 jerseys.
‘‘Those players earned the opportunity for the first match of the season,’’ Kearney said of his
team selection. ‘‘There were a lot of good signs from them against the Titans. Having said that, there are lots of areas we need to improve on.’’
The NRL has instituted a new team-naming protocol this season which requires all clubs to list 21 players each Tuesday with the squad to be trimmed to 19, 24 hours before the game. The final playing 17 will be confirmed an hour before kick-off and must come from the 19-man group.
There are two players who could be making their NRL debuts at the weekend, Erin Clark, who will be the reserve hooker and second rower Isaiah Papali’i. Both teenage players had impressive trial games and have been rewarded for their efforts by Kearney.
The Warriors lost their last four games in 2016 and haven’t won their first game of a season since 2009, but won’t get a better chance than this. They’re at their home ground and playing against a side which won just one game last season.
The Warriors have an impressive recent record against the Knights, having won 10 of the last 11 contests at Mount Smart stretching back to 2006. If they win this one it will be the club’s 249th victory overall.