Sweet smell of success: Chanel No 6 stays in halves

Warriors youngster Chanel HarrisTavita has been retained in the halves for the clash with the Roosters on Sunday at the Sydney Cricket Ground, despite the possible return of Kiwis halfback Kodi Nikorima.

It’s just reward for Harris-Tavita, who was outstanding in the Warriors’ surprise 24-16 win over Manly last Friday in Auckland.

He was involved in most of the Warriors’ best moments on attack, including two try assists for Ken Maumalo, and also made an impact on defence, not afraid to put his body on the line.

That performance followed up a best-on-field display in the 46-12 loss to the Raiders, when the 20-year-old was singled out by coach Stephen Kearney as an example to the others during his halftime tirade that night.

Harris-Tavita is part of an unchanged 17 for the game in Sydney, although Nikorima is on the extended bench.

If the 25-year-old, who has struggled with an ankle complaint in the past month, comes through this week’s training, indications are he will be used as a dummy half option against the reigning premiers.

Nikorima first hurt his ankle scoring a late try in the 19-18 win over the Sharks. Nikorima then missed the loss to Parramatta and re-injured his ankle against the Raiders, which ruled him out last week.

The clash with the Roosters will be special for front rower Leeson Ah Mau, who becomes the NRL’s newest 200-game player in the historic contest at the SCG (4pm NZT).

Ah Mau’s career milestone coincides with the first time the Warriors have played at the SCG.

The 29-year-old Mangere East junior is one of only two players to appear in all the club’s 20 matches this season,

Ah Mau returned to the Warriors this season after starting his NRL career with two appearances in 2009.

The New Zealand and Samoa international then made 33 appearances for the Cowboys in 2010 and 2011 before spending seven years with the St George Illawarra Dragons during 2012-18 (144 games).

The ultra-consistent Ah Mau is averaging 111 metres a game this season and is also one of the most effective defenders, making 577 tackles and missing just 10.

In the win over Manly, he ran for 137 metres from 12 carries and made 29 tackles without a miss.

The Warriors lie 11th on the ladder on 19 points, two behind eighthplaced Brisbane and three behind seventh-placed Penrith.

They face a Roosters side coming off an impressive 22-18 win over the in-form Raiders in Canberra.