Tevaga targets early return
Jazz Tevaga says the Warriors’ forwards might be cobbled together but they’ll ambush NRL opponents who don’t rate them, starting with the star-laden St George Illawarra pack.
Tevaga is among four injured middle forwards who will miss Saturday’s roundthree encounter after rupturing a knee ligament during their isolation period in Tamworth.
Club medics hope the tough backrower will be ready in a month for their round- seven match against Melbourne, although Tevaga is targeting a return two weeks earlier against North Queensland.
The Warriors are still seeking a loan player to bolster their fading stocks. While Tevaga said that would be a signficant boost, he believed their current forwards had the firepower and enthusiasm to ruffle feathers.
The Dragons’ pack is set to be back at full strength after the return of fit- again brothers Tariq and Korbin Sims and hooker Cameron McInnes.
James Graham, Paul Vaughan and Tyson Frizell are imposing figures for a Warriors pack who can boast only Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and Agnatius Paasi as seasoned first-graders.
‘‘They’ve got a pretty classy side, a few stars in that forward pack,’’ Tevaga said.
‘‘The good thing about our young fellas is that they’re hungry and they just want to get some NRL experience under way.
‘‘Sometimes, you can get a bit complacent when you know you’re versing younger boys ... if the Dragons do, they’re going to be in trouble because our young fellas are ready to go.’’
Tevaga said the Warriors’ resolve was toughening as kickoff neared, having spent three weeks solely in each others’ company since leaving Auckland.