Kiwis test stars in line to play
Kiwi stars Issac Luke and Peta Hiku remain in line to back up from international duty for the Warriors in tonight’s NRL clash against Cronulla at Mt Smart Stadium.
The pair have been retained on an extended seven-man bench in Warriors coach Stephen Kearney’s reduced 20-man squad to remain in the frame to back-up against the Sharks after playing in New Zealand’s 36-18 test defeat to England in Denver on Sunday.
Left wing Ken Maumalo won’t be required to play after making his test debut for the Kiwis at Mile High Stadium, with backline utility Blake Ayshford and front-rower Albert Vete the other players to drop out of the side.
The Warriors starting line-up remains unchanged for now, with left centre Solomone Kata and right wing David Fusitu’a set to return from respective ankle injuries, with Kearney due to finalise his playing 17 an hour before kick-off.
However, such is Luke's importance to the team, Kearney may be tempted to thrust him into the starting dummyhalf role in place of versatile back-up No 9 Karl Lawton.
Hiku could also be a late inclusion with right centre Anthony Gelling also battling an ankle problem suffered in his last reserve grade outing against Newcastle on June 17.
Luke's experience, creativity and organising skills cannot be replaced and his presence eases the pressure on playmakers Shaun Johnson and Blake Green while offering the side another kicking option. The Warriors are a much better side with Luke in their line-up, and they will need to be at their best if they are to overcome a formidable Sharks side to post a third straight victory.
After getting through a patchy run of form that included three home defeats to the Broncos, Roosters and Rabbitohs, Green says it's imperative the fourth-ranked Warriors maintain their consistency and reward their loyal supporters with a strong showing against the seventh-placed Sharks.
"We finally cracked it and won two games on the bounce and we haven't played really well the last couple of times we've been at home, so it's a really good chance for us to rectify that and give our fans something to cheer about," said Green.
The Warriors know they need to stand up physically after being beaten-up and out-enthused in each of their home defeats, and are preparing for another rugged encounter against a hungry Sharks outfit looking to bounce back from their last-start loss to Brisbane.
They are bolstered by former Bulldogs front-rower Aaron Woods, who will make his debut off the bench as part of a powerful forward rotation also boasting Andrew Fifita, Matt Prior, and veteran leader Paul Gallen.
"They've got experience and a pretty handy forward pack," said Kearney.
"They've got some strike in (Matt) Moylan and Valentine (Holmes), and with Chad (Townsend) they've got a halfback that likes to control and put them in good positions, so they're a good footy team.’’