Lolohea wasn’t keen to wing it at Warriors
Stephen Kearney says he allowed Tuimoala Lolohea to leave to take an opportunity he wasn’t going to get at the Warriors.
Lolohea was given an official release from the club late last week and has signed for Wests Tigers on a two and-a-half-year deal.
The 22-year-old was expected to be one of the real stars at the Warriors over the next decade, but instead leaves after spending two months with the reserve grade team.
Kearney, who selected Lolohea in the halves for the Kiwis in 2015, said on Tuesday that he felt his best position was on the wing, but Lolohea thought otherwise.
With Lolohea dropping down the selection pecking order on the wing, Kearney said he eventually agreed to give him a release, once they had picked up Zac Santo from the Raiders.
‘‘To be honest, I saw him as a specialist winger to begin with and Tui saw himself more as a half or fullback,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘The last thing I want to do is stop a young man from trying to achieve his potential, so I thought it was fair to both parties to let him go and chase the position he wants to play.’’
Kearney admitted he’s sad to see Lolohea go, but felt he wanted to do right by him and allow him to
switch to another club where he’ll get a better chance to play first grade, and in a position he likes.
‘‘It’s always disappointing to see young guys [leave] who’ve been here for a while,’’ he said.
‘‘But he didn’t see the opportunity for him here and I didn’t want to hold him back from achieving that.
‘‘I had an idea of where I wanted to play him and with the way the guys are going there [on the wings] wasn’t the opportunity there.
‘‘He felt he wanted an opportunity in the halves or fullback and that’s the best opportunity he’s going to get probably, at the Tigers.’’
Lolohea started the season playing on the wing for the Warriors, but went to fullback when Roger Tuivasa-sheck missed a game because of concussion, then switched to five-eighth when Kieran Foran was a late withdrawal for the round for game against the Dragons.
Kearney was asked what changed in his mind about Lolohea, that resulted in him dropping out of the first grade team.
‘‘It’s a matter for myself and Tui,’’ he said. ‘‘What I will say is that we gave him the opportunity.
‘‘The opportunity for him now is with the Tigers and I wish him all the best. I’m sure it will be a great challenge for him moving forward and something that will make him grow and better.’’
The Warriors play the Eels in Parramatta on Friday night and they’ll be attempting to win their first game away from Mt Smart Stadium this season.
They named their team yesterday, with Solomone Kata returning from injury to the centres, David Fusitu’a moving out to the wing, and Charnze Nicoll-klokstad dropping to an eight-man interchange, which will be cut to four by kickoff.
Mafoa’aeata Hingano and Jacob Lillyman have also come on to the interchange, with Ligi Sao and Mason Lino dropping off from last week’s initial squad. The extent of Lillyman’s involvement remains to be seen, as he will be backing up after playing for Queensland in State of Origin tonight.
If the Warriors are to make it into the top eight at the end of the season, they desperately need to start picking up results on the road, but Kearney doesn’t want their dreadful form outside of Auckland to become an issue. ‘‘It’s not an issue,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s the reality of our circumstance and it’s about making sure we get the job done.
‘‘I’d rather put my energy into making sure we prepare well and put our best performance on the park.’’