Lino gets team-mates’ backing
Mason Lino will get something he hasn’t had so far this season when the Warriors take on the Storm on Wednesday night – time to prepare.
The team’s backup halfback was thrown into the games against the Roosters and Dragons this year at short notice, because of injuries to Shaun Johnson.
But for this week’s game he was given plenty of notice that he’ll be wearing the No 7 jersey at AAMI Park. He trained with the team there on Monday, when Johnson was doing his fitness test, and he’ll go into what’s probably the toughest game the Warriors will have this season feeling accustomed to being in the team.
‘‘I think he’ll go well, like he has the last couple of games,’’ Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘He’s stepped up every time he’s got the call up.’’
Lino, who almost moved to France a couple of years ago, was a player the Warriors were very keen to re-sign last season, which was just as well, because there weren’t many other clubs lining up to sign him.
But what the Warriors knew was that he’s the perfect back-up for Johnson – reliable, without an ego and always committed.
Warriors coach, Stephen Kearney knew he could rely on Lino whenever Johnson was unavailable and in the games against the Roosters and Dragons, he’s looked assured and confident.
‘‘I put it down to his personality,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘If you asked the rest of the group about Mason, they’d say he’s a fun guy, he’s got that little buzz about him.
‘‘He’s always really cheerful and I think that’s why he’s good at the game, because he doesn’t come in stressed or panicking about anything. He just enjoys playing.’’
With there being just a five-day turnaround between last Friday’s 20-12 win over the Dragons and the Anzac Day game, there’s not much time for the Warriors to prepare to play the Storm, so they’re hoping it’s a case of just continuing the momentum from that impressive win.
‘‘The preparation is tough, we’re doing what we can,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘This week is all about getting ready, being fresh.
‘‘The game [against the Dragons] wasn’t so long ago, so we’re focussing on getting ready. MASON LINO FACT BOX Height: 1.75m Weight: 84kg Age: 24 Born: Apia, Samoa NRL debut: v Cowboys, August 22, 2015 NRL
11 NRL tries: 2
‘‘We haven’t really put too much on Anzac Day and the occasion, because I think that could overwhelm a few of us.’’
This has been a season where Tuivasa-Sheck has looked more assured with the captaincy role.
This responsibility was given to him early in his career by Kearney, at the beginning of last season, and it could be argued that there were better, more experienced options.
However, he’s matured into the role and his leadership qualities are shining through.
‘‘I’m another year older now with the captaincy role,’’ he said.
‘‘I’m still learning and still have got a lot to do, but having the other guys around me helps. ‘‘Blake Green is awesome at speaking to the ref and speaking in general, so I can ask him about how I can approach the ref.’’
The Anzac Day game between the Storm and Warriors in Melbourne has become a regular feature on the NRL calendar, apart from in 2015, but it’s one the Storm have dominated.
Apart from Warriors wins in 2011 and 2014, the Storm have won the last nine of these games and even though there are always plenty of ex-pat Kiwis in Melbourne, it’s one the Storm always get up for.