Warriors lose Murdoch-Masila
Nathan Brown’s Warriors have been dealt yet another injury blow to a key player but the welcome return of three others will help offset the loss of Ben Murdoch-Masila.
The in-form forward, who has been bouncing between second row and prop, has been one of the Warriors’ best in the last couple of weeks but will sit out Sunday’s NRL match against Manly after leaving the field with a concussion during last week’s 24-20 victory over the Cowboys.
Murdoch-Masila, who has added some genuine X-factor to the Warriors’ attack this season, made contact with the forearm of Cowboys enforcer Jason Taumalolo when attempting to make a tackle and was taken from the field following a lengthy break in play.
In just 42 minutes, MurdochMasila ran for 117 metres and made 22 tackles without a miss.
He has been replaced in the starting side by Eliesa Katoa who was dropped to reserve grade last month, then suffered a toe injury playing for the Warriors’ feeder club the Redcliffe Dolphins.
Katoa’s return, against Manly, will be his first NRL match since the Warriors’ dreadful loss to the same club on April 9.
Brown has not named halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita or centre Euan Aitken in his starting 17 but given they are listed on the extended bench, they could come into the side.
Harris-Tavita partnered Kodi Nikorima in the halves for the first two matches of the season until suffering a stress fracture in his left foot that required surgery.
If Harris-Tavita is ready to go on Sunday, it will present an interesting selection headache for Brown given the emergence of the Nikorima and Reece Walsh combination in the last two
weeks.
Aitken, who joined the club from the Dragons at the end of last season, was injured in the Warriors’ round-one win over the Titans.
Aitken’s ankle injury, which required surgery, has seen him sidelined since.
David Fusitu’a, who was named to return from a hamstring injury last week but did not play, has not been named in the 21-man squad to tackle Manly.
Manly have lost former Kiwi Martin Taupau to a head knock and fellow prop Josh Aloiai with a wrist injury.
Centre Moses Suli has been named on the bench to return from a back injury.