Halves race heats up
It’s been the biggest question of the Warriors’ pre-season and the race to replace Shaun Johnson heats up tonight.
The Warriors play their first game of 2019 in a trial against the Storm in Geelong, with rookie trio Adam Keighran, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Hayze Perham all looking to push their claims for the No 7 jersey left vacant by Johnson’s shock departure to Cronulla.
Keighran, who spent the past two seasons playing reserve grade for the Bulldogs and Panthers, is believed to be the frontrunner at this stage. But with veteran playmaker Blake Green nursing a hamstring injury, coach Stephen Kearney intends to give all three players equal time in the halves.
And with Keighran, Harris-Tavita and Perham untested at first grade level, how they perform in the trials is sure to have a major bearing on who is selected to partner Green in round one against the Bulldogs.
‘‘They’ve come on as the preseason’s gone on and have an opportunity this weekend to do it without an experienced half out there in Blake,’’ Kearney said.
Five-eighth Api Pewhairangi, who made four appearances for the Eels in 2013 before playing the last three seasons at the London Broncos, is also in the 23-man squad.
But Keighran and Harris-Tevita are seen as the leading contenders for the halfback position, with Perham an outside chance as he continues his transition from fullback.
Harris-Tavita has been in the Warriors’ system for several years and has shown plenty of promise in the under-20s and reserve grade, as well as for the Junior Kiwis.
But for most Warriors fans, Keighran arrived in Auckland as an unknown quantity.
A former Australian schoolboys representative, the 21-year-old played most of last season at centre, where he was selected in the 2018 Intrust Super Premiership NSW team of the year.
However, Keighran, who has a reputation as a strong goal-kicker, grew up playing in the halves and has impressed his new team-mates on the training paddock.
‘‘He’s got a big boot on him which is good and he talks a bit, so he’s not shy in that area,’’ prop Agnatius Paasi told Stuff.
The Warriors also play a trial against Wests Tigers in Whangarei next week and Paasi is one of a number of first-choice players rested from tonight’s match.