Green, Gavet back for playoff and injured duo also named
The Warriors could be at full strength for their biggest game of the season.
Five-eighth Blake Green will return against Penrith on Saturday as expected, after missing the last two matches with a calf injury, while prop James Gavet is also back after a late scratching before the Raiders match last Friday with a knee strain.
The biggest doubt hangs over Simon Mannering (sternum) and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (ankle), though coach Stephen Kearney expects they will both take the field at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.
“We are pretty confident they will be good to go in time for the game, we just need to monitor their progress throughout the rest of the week,” said Kearney.”They did a bit of work in the gym [yesterday] and spent time with the physio. They are preparing to play.”
It’s unlikely Mannering will take part in much if any training this week as he recovers from a heavily bruised sternum sustained in the opening tackle of last Friday’s 20-16 win over the Raiders.
But his ability to push through the pain barrier is legendary and his experience will be vital against the Panthers.
Tuivasa-Sheck has an ankle sprain and was hobbling as he went on stage at the Warriors’ end of season awards on Sunday but has traditionally been a fast healer.
It will be a boost for the Auckland club to have their top 17, as most of their rivals deal with the absence of key players.
Probably the biggest hurdle for the Warriors will be overcoming a relative lack of finals experience.
Aside from prop Gavet, others set to line up in the playoffs for the first time are David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo and Solomone Kata, plus interchange forwards Jazz Tevaga, Isaiah Papali’i and Bunty Afoa. On the extended bench, Mason Lino, Chris Satae and Karl Lawton have also never tasted September football.
However, there are experienced comrades who will line up with them.
Adam Blair, Tohu Harris, Gerard Beale and Tuivasa-Sheck have appeared in multiple finals campaigns and won premierships, while the 2011 grand final is one of Mannering’s 10 playoff matches.
Issac Luke also has considerable finals experience, though suspension ruled him out of the Rabbitohs’ 2014 grand final triumph.
The Panthers beat the Warriors 36-4 in July but the Warriors avenged that with their 36-16 victory at Mt Smart two weeks ago.
The clubs have met in the playoffs only once before, the Panthers prevailing 28-20 in the 2003 preliminary final before claiming the premiership a week later.
In 17 previous finals matches, the Warriors have won eight and lost nine, while the Panthers have a 13-14 record, including grand final victories in 1991 and 2003.