Harris, Lino return to take on Panthers
WELLINGTON: Back rower Tohu Harris returns from injury while Mason Lino replaces an injured Blake Green in the halves for the Warriors home game against Penrith on Friday.
Lino’s selection at stand off is the only change to the starting lineup used in the past three matches against St George, Newcastle and Canterbury as the Warriors strive to confirm their place in the NRL finals for the first time since 2011.
Harris comes on to the bench for Leivaha Pulu after being sidelined since June 29 with meniscus tears in both knees.
Named on the bench again is utility back Peta Hiku, who is set to make his 100th career appearance after joining the club this season following a total of 80 games for Manly and Penrith from 2013 to 2017.
The biggest individual milestone in Warriors’ history looms large.
Simon Mannering plays his 299th game this week as he eyes becoming the first player to rack up 300 matches for the club in the final regularseason game against Canberra on Friday week.
Veteran playmaker Green, missing from the lineup for just the second time this year, is expected to return from a calf injury against the Raiders.
It gives Lino the opportunity to make his seventh appearance of the season and only his second in tandem with Shaun Johnson after the pair lined up against Melbourne in the 126 loss on July 22.
While they lose a leader in Green, the Warriors welcome back another in Harris who has missed the past six games .
He needed minor surgery to repair a tear in his left knee after the June 29 match against Cronulla before succumbing to the same complaint in his right knee in a training session as he was preparing to make his comeback against the Dragons.
The Warriors sit eighth on the ladder with 28 points, two behind the Dragons, Panthers and Sharks. The Storm, Roosters and Rabbitohs are locked on 32 points at the top of the table.
In 40 meetings since 1995, the Warriors have 16 wins and the Panthers 23 with one match drawn.
The Warriors have won only two of the past 10 contests against Penrith, at Mount
Smart Stadium in 2014 and
2016 while the ledger is 99 in the 18 games the two sides have played in Auckland. — RNZ