Warriors’ rebuilt right edge ready to fire against Dogs
WELLINGTON: The most lethal right edge in the NRL has been dismantled but winger David Fusitu’a believes the Warriors are now freed up to fire on both sides.
Fusitu’a was the competition’s leading tryscorer in 2018 with 23 tries from 23 games, more often than not on the back of some fluent work inside.
The club’s right edge laid on a competitionhigh 42 tries, often sparked by halfback Shaun Johnson or some timely passes from secondrower Tohu Harris or centre Pita Hiku.
Johnson has left for Cronulla while Harris and Hiku will line up on the left side in tomorrow opener against the Canterbury Bulldogs in Auckland.
It is not yet clear whether Blake Green or fellow half Adam Keighran will be stationed on the right, Keighran having only recently been certified as Johnson’s starting replacement.
However, Fusitu’a is satisfied with the combination established over the offseason with experienced pair Adam Blair and Solomone Kata inside him.
‘‘It’s exciting. We’ve been working hard on those combinations on attack and defence on both sides of the park,’’ Fusitu’a said.
Coach Stephen Kearney is equally confident the transition will be seamless.
Harris was a left secondrower for four seasons at the Melbourne Storm while Kata played most of his junior football on the opposite edge, only switching when Konrad Hurrell locked down the Warriors right centre berth.
Kata ran strongly last year but was often accused of failing to link effectively. He was also caught out defensively at times.
It prompted a plea to Kearney early in the offseason.
‘‘Sol demanded that he go to the right edge. He wanted to go and work on the righthand side with his fellowTongan teammate in David,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘I thought ‘that sounds pretty good, they’ve got a closeness there’. It’s working out OK.’’ — AAP