Roache out to make No 9 spot his own
WELLINGTON: Following his successful return from longterm injury, Warriors hooker Nathaniel Roache is focused on his battle for the NRL side’s No 9 jumper against returning star Isaac Luke.
Roache made an impressive return to first grade in last week’s 406 thumping of the Bulldogs in Auckland, barely putting a foot wrong in his first appearance in 19 months.
The 22yearold admits he nearly broke into tears as he ran on to Mt Smart Stadium, his emotions already stirred by the mosque massacre that had unfolded in Christchurch a day earlier.
He produced a fluent attacking performance in what was only his 21st appearance in four seasons at the club after back surgery ruled him out last year.
Satisfied his back is no longer a problem, Roache regards Sunday’s match against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium as a chance to settle back into the grind and test himself against the evergreen Robbie Farah.
It also provides a challenge for coach Stephen Kearney, who must decide how to employ Roache and Luke.
Veteran Kiwis rake Luke missed last week with a tender shoulder following offseason surgery, but has been named on the bench for a return this week.
Kearney described it as a ‘‘good headache’’, while acknowledging he will find it hard to reduce the onfield time for the youngster, who made 35 tackles without missing any, and finished off the best of the seven tries against the Bulldogs.
Roache welcomed Luke’s return and hopes the 31yearold can remain fit and summon the same sort of influential form as last year.
He believes he will need to improve his physicality in defence to challenge Luke for a starting berth long term.
‘‘I don’t want to be a speed bump, as they call it, someone in the middle who the big boys can just run over,’’ Roache said.