New recruit named on bench for Broncos clash At a glance
He’s not exactly flush with options but Warriors interim coach Todd Payten has again resisted widespread changes.
Penrith Panthers prop Jack Hetherington, who joined the Warriors on loan this week comes straight onto the bench in a direct swap for former loan prop Poasa Faamausili who has been recalled to the Roosters due to their injury concerns.
The Warriors (14th) host the Broncos (15th) at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday with both clubs facing significant turmoil on and off the field so far in 2020.
But aside from Hetherington’s inclusion, Payten – in his second match since the shock sacking of
Stephen Kearney – has only made a few minor changes and positional tweaks from the side that was thumped 50-6 by the Melbourne Storm last Friday night.
Three of the four players – David Fusitu’a, Ken Maumalo and Agnatius Paasi – who voiced a desire to return home earlier this week – will start against the Broncos but Leivaha Pulu is not in the 21-man squad.
He has not seen a minute of game time in 2020 despite leaving his family behind in early May when the Warriors left for Tamworth.
Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been named but needs to beat a grade-one shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary which he was fronting last night to be able to take his spot.
Wayde Egan returns from a one-game suspension and reclaims the starting hooker spot with wing David Fusitu’a – who will play his 100th NRL match – returning from missing the Storm debacle due to a head knock received the previous week against the Rabbitohs.
Chanel Harris-Tavita, who impressed off the bench against Melbourne, has been named alongside the man he replaced, Karl Lawton, but the latter will need to pass HIA protocols before he is cleared to play.
Isaiah Papali’i and Gerard Beale have been dropped to the extended bench but could come into the side if Lawton and Tuivasa-Sheck are not cleared to play.
King Vuniyayawa also returns to the extended bench for the first time in a couple of weeks.