Blair goes on the loose for Warriors
Adam Blair will play at loose forward against the Roosters on Saturday as the Warriors go for their fourth win of the season.
The Kiwis captain, who played at prop for the wins over the Rabbitohs, Titans and Raiders has been moved to a new position with Agnatius Paasi playing in the front row.
With prop Sam Lisone suspended for a week, Chris Satae, who made his NRL debut last year comes into the squad as as he’ll wear the No 16 jersey, is likely to make it onto the field at Allianz Stadium.
On the Kiwis’ tour to England in 2015, Stephen Kearney, then coach of the Kiwis, played Blair at lock, so it isn’t a surprise to see him slotted in there again. Ligi Sao, drops to the interchange.
Albert Vete, who was suspended for the first game of the season and wasn’t able to play in any of the trial games, is on an extended bench, but Simon Mannering hasn’t yet been cleared to play as he continues to recover from a shoulder injury he picked up in the trial against Gold Coast.
‘‘Simon’s getting closer but remains a week-by-week proposition,’’ Kearney said.
Satae played for 72 minutes in last Saturday’s 16-18 NSW Cup loss to the Panthers, making 177 metres from 18 carries plus 32 tackles.
After a fantastic start to the season, the quality of the opposition the Warriors face will go up over the next few weeks.
The Roosters have won their last two games and are showing the form that’s warranted from a
team many tipped to win the Premiership.
Following the Roosters game, the Warriors take on the Cowboys, Broncos, the unbeaten Dragons and then Storm.
These give games will be a true indicator how good a season the Warriors could have this year.