Tuivasa-Sheck might miss Storm clash
The Warriors could face the mighty Melbourne Storm on Anzac Day minus talismanic captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, as well as try-scoring winger David Fusitu’a.
Stuff understands the star fullback is struggling with a hamstring injury and is doubtful for tomorrow night’s NRL clash in Melbourne.
The Warriors, as expected, listed Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback when announcing their team on yesterday, but the inclusion of uncapped Hayze Perham among the interchanges hints the skipper is a doubt to play the Storm at AAMI Park.
His absence would be a huge blow for the Warriors as they seek to bounce back from last Saturday’s disappointing 17-10 home defeat to the North Queensland Cowboys in Auckland.
Missing from the squad altogether was Fusitu’a after he picked up a rib injury in the error-ridden loss against the Cowboys, so Gerard Beale moves from centre out to the right wing.
Peta Hiku returns to the centres as key halfback Blake Green was named alongside rookie Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves again after missing the last two matches with a groin injury.
Green sat out group training on Monday but did all his own running. However, it means he’ll only have today’s captain’s run to integrate with the rest of the team.
Centre Solomone Kata left Monday’s training session with a sore neck but has been listed to start against Melbourne, who top the table despite suffering their first defeat of the season (20-21) to the Sydney Roosters in their grand final rematch last week.
The Warriors, meanwhile, sit 10th on the ladder after two wins and four defeats from the opening six rounds. The Storm hammered the Warriors 50-10 in this fixture last year.
Nathan Harris
Hooker has become the latest player to commit to New Zealand, extending his contract until 2021 with New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs. Harris, 27, made his Super Rugby and All Blacks debut in 2014, two years after his provincial debut for Bay of Plenty. He has played 20 tests for the All Blacks, 51 games for the Chiefs and 29 games for Bay of Plenty. ‘‘I’m really excited to have re-signed with New Zealand rugby and to continue playing rugby for the Chiefs for the next two seasons,’’ Harris said. The Northern Stars are limping their way towards the playoffs. The third-placed side in the ANZ Premiership netball competition suffered a 49-46 loss to the Tactix in Christchurch last night in a tepid performance that didn’t indicate they’d offer any serious challenge to the two top teams. There’s now a three-point gap between the Southern Steel in second and the Stars, who have played two more matches, ensuring the Steel should gain the home playoff spot in the preliminary final to earn the right to meet regular season champions-elect Central Pulse in the final. It was the fourth consecutive loss for the Stars, who still have a five-point advantage over the fifth-placed Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.