Ale’s debut gives Warriors a boost

Interim Warriors coach Todd Payten says it will be a special moment for all the team tomorrow when Tom Ale makes his NRL debut, against the Raiders.

There are just three players who’ve been with the team in Australia for the past four months who’ve yet to play a game this season.

One is 21-year-old prop Ale, another is fullback Rocco Berry, the 19-year-old son of former All Black Marty Berry, while there’s also hooker Nathaniel Roache.

Ale is set to make his debut from the interchange bench this weekend, while Berry is on the extended squad.

Ale and Berry are on development contracts this season, but have been upgraded to full squad members next year.

It can’t have been easy for either of them to spend so long away from there families, especially when they weren’t getting to play a game each weekend, but with finals footy no longer a possibility Payten has been able to reward Ale’s perseverance this weekend.

‘‘He’s trained really well since he’s been here,’’ Payten said.

‘‘It’s been difficult for him, he hasn’t spent a lot of time away from home.

‘‘There are different times over the last two seasons where he would have thought he was a long way away from first grade.

‘‘I’ve seen his training go to a different level and his application away from the training paddock.

‘‘So I’m excited about this and so are the rest of the group. When I let them know on Monday that Tommy would be making his debut, it got a roar out of the boys and lifted the spirits.’’

As for Berry, who has had to battle a back injury while in camp, Payten says it’s unlikely he’ll get to play against the Raiders or in the final game of the season, against the

Sea Eagles on Sunday September 27.

‘‘I’d love to give Rocco a run,’’ Payten said.

‘‘But given his age and the stress fracture or lower back problem, it’s probably too big a risk with the lack of running he’s had under his belt.

‘‘I’ve no doubt he’s a long-term first-grader for many years at the club.’’

Roache hasn’t played a game since June 2019 and has had knee and ankle operations since then.

He won’t be offered a contract by the club for next year and niggles have held him back this season.

With one more squad naming to go in 2020, Roache is running out of time to play one last game for the Warriors.