Warriors on song ahead of NRL finals campaign
WELLINGTON: The Warriors will have the calming words of Blake Green — and his deafening music — ringing in their ears as they embark on a longawaited NRL finals campaign.
Blaring music and simulated crowd noise was the backdrop yesterday as the Warriors prepared for the atmosphere they expect against Penrith at ANZ Stadium on Saturday.
Fitagain fiveeighth Green introduced the idea, believing the Warriors need a reminder of what awaits in the playoffs, seven years after their last postseason experience.
‘‘It’s just a lot louder when you play finals footy. It was just something I thought would be of benefit,’’ he said.
Coach Stephen Kearney believed the attack on the senses will aid his team’s communication, which he considers the most important element to get right if they are to topple the favoured Panthers.
Injured duo Roger Tuivasa Sheck (ankle) and Simon Mannering (sternum) sat out training at Mt Smart Stadium.
Kearney was ‘‘more than pretty confident’’ the pair will play but wants to ease them through the early part of the week.
Issac Luke also trained lightly but that continued a pattern of the last month as the veteran hooker manages calf and achilles issues that have dogged him.
Veteran playmaker Green missed the regular seasonending home wins over Penrith and Canberra but is fully over a calf niggle and poised to be a key figure alongside Shaun Johnson against influential Penrith opposites James Maloney and Nathan Cleary.
The Warriors have named Green, Tuivasa Sheck and Mannering for Saturday’s elimination final with Penrith. A The cavalry has returned for Melbourne, as Billy Slater, Cameron Munster and Suliasi Vunivalu are welcomed back for Friday night’s NRL qualifying final against South Sydney.
The Rabbitohs have named an unchanged lineup despite enforcer Sam Burgess suffering a hamstring injury in their last round thumping of Wests Tigers.
And Brisbane’s Andrew McCullough and Alex Glenn are back for Sunday’s knockout playoff with St George
Illawarra.