Foran to start for Warriors
Kieran Foran has been named to start in the Warriors team for Sunday’s game against the Titans in Auckland.
The five-eighth was a late scratching from the side that lost to the Dragons 26-12 last weekend, slightly tearing his hamstring in the warmup.
Although it was big news for the Warriors’ star signing to miss a game at the last minute, the injury wasn’t too serious - coach Stephen Kearney was mostly concerned about Foran making the hamstring injury worse if he played.
Foran has recovered well over the past couple days, although even though he’s been named, it isn’t completely certain he’ll play, as the Warriors only have to name a squad of 21 at this stage.
That will be trimmed to 19, a day before the game and the final 17 announced an hour before kick off.
However, Kearney said he was optimistic that the New Zealand international will at last make his Warriors debut.
‘‘Kieran felt a twinge in his hamstring and in the warmup and it wasn’t worth the risk to play him,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘He had good power in the leg at the time and has responded well since. He’s making good progress. We’re certainly hopeful he will be able to play.’’
James Gavet and Ligi Sao, who last weekend both had stand out performances in their first NRL games of the season, retain their places in the side and are likely to play plenty of minutes against a Titans team that also has only won one game this season.
But missing from the team is Tuimoala Lolohea, who has played wing, fullback and five-eighth the past three weeks.
His form hasn’t been that great, probably not helped by the constant position changing, but he has lost out to Blake Ayshford, who has taken his place on the wing.
Erin Clarke has fallen out of the 21-man squad and been replaced by the club’s 2016 rookie of the year, Nathaniel Roache. It also looks unlikely that Bunty Afoa will play.
This will be the 21st mach between the Warriors and Titans, with the home side holding a 13-7 advantage. The Warriors have won the last three contests.