Returning Kiwis in Warriors team
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney has named the three players who represented the Kiwis in Denver in the team for Friday night’s game against the Sharks.
Hooker Issac Luke, centre Peta Hiku and wing Ken Maumalo flew out of Denver yesterday, a day later than expected because of an electrical storm at the airport in Colorado.
Even though Kearney hasn’t been able to see what state the players are in and knows they will have limited time to prepare to take on the Sharks, he has taken use of the NRL’s rule, allowing him to name an extended squad of 23, rather than 21.
Any club that contributed four or more players to representative sides last weekend has been allowed to name two additional players for round 16.
Hiku, Luke and Maumalo are the last three players on the Warriors team sheet, so it’s unlikely they’ll play, but it does mean they are available for selection. The squad will be trimmed to 19 players tomorrow evening, with the final 17 confirmed an hour before the 7.30pm kick off.
Solomone Kata, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, and David Fusitu’a (ankle) have both been named in the starting side. However, neither player fully took part in training on Monday and are under some doubt for the game. If they can’t play, then Kearney will likely look at asking Hiku and Maumalo to take the field, although with some reluctance.
Gerard Beale will start on one wing, with Anthony Gelling at centre and Karl Lawton at hooker.
Adam Blair serves the second of his two-week suspension for making dangerous contact to the head/neck area of the Cowboys’ Kyle Feldt in the Warriors’ last game, so Simon Mannering will start at lock.
Also named are three Warriors players who appeared for Samoa in Saturday’s Pacific test in Sydney – James Gavet at prop, Isaiah Papali’i in the second row and Bunty Afoa on the bench.
The Warriors will be searching for their third straight win, having previously defeated the Sea Eagles and Cowboys in away wins.