Stephen Kearney has named something like his expected Round 1 line-up for the Warriors’ final trial match, to be played against the Gold Coast Titans at Sunshine Coast Stadium in Kawana Waters on Saturday.
Key features of the side include club debuts for big-name recruits Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and Blake Green, and the first hit-out of 2018 for superstars Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Shaun Johnson.
The only diversions from a full-strength starting side (not including the injured Gerard Beale) are the absence of veterans Simon Mannering and Issac Luke, who will both come off an extended bench. Bunty Afoa and Sam Cook will start at lock and hooker respectively.
Peta Hiku has been named in the centres after a strong first-up display against Melbourne in Rotorua last Saturday, while James Gavet will start in the front-row alongside Blair with newly re-signed prop Sam Lisone making his first appearance of 2018 off the bench.
Unimpressive in Rotorua, Ken Maumalo needs a strong performance on the wing to ward off the challenge of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who is in this week’s interchange contingent after producing some nice touches at fullback last weekend.
Front-rower Chris Satae and Ligi Sao can also push for Round 1 inclusion following excellent showings against the Storm when they come off the bench, while exciting teenagers Hayze Perham and Joesph Vuna get another opportunity in top company.
But all eyes will be squarely on how new halves combination Johnson and Green gel – a key component in the Warriors’ 2018 campaign – and the performance of the maligned Blair.
WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
Sunshine Coast Stadium, Kawana Waters
5.00pm, Saturday, February 24
WARRIORS
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 DAVID FUSITU’A
18 PETA HIKU
4 SOLOMONE KATA
20 KEN MAUMALO
6 BLAKE GREEN
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
21 ADAM BLAIR
9 SAM COOK
10 JAMES GAVET
11 TOHU HARRIS
12 LEIVAHA PULU
13 BUNTY AFOA
Interchange:
14 LIGI SAO
15 CHRIS SATAE
16 SAM LISONE
17 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD
22 SIMON MANNERING
23 JOSEPH VUNA
25 ANTHONY GELLING
28 HAYZE PERHAM
30 ATA HINGANO
31 ISSAC LUKE
Categories: Team News + Stats, WARRIORS NEWS
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