Chanel Harris-Tavita, Adam Keighran and Hayze Perham will all get the chance to press their claims for the Warriors’ vacant halves spot in Friday night’s first NRL trial against the Melbourne Storm in Geelong.
The trio have been named in a relatively low-key 23-man squad to take on the 2018 runners-up, who have named seven members of their grand final squad. Another promising young half, Junior Kiwis rep Paul Turner, also gets an opportunity.
Without Blake Green on deck, coach Stephen Kearney will be eager for his playmaking contenders to step up and take control.
First-choice forwards Bunty Afoa, Isaiah Papali’i and Jazz Tevaga, and fringe players Chris Satae, Ligi Sao, Sam Cook and Sam Lisone are the only players who turned out in first grade for the Warriors in 2018.
Other features of the squad include new recruit Lachlan Burr, first-grade veteran Blake Ayshford and utility Nate Roache, who missed all of 2018 with a back injury.
A full-strength Warriors line-up is expected for next weekend’s trial against Wests Tigers in Whangarei, though key spine duo Blake Green (hamstring) and Issac Luke (shoulder) are unlikely to play due to injury.
Stephen Kearney's first squad of the year is out for Friday night's trial against @storm in Geelong.#NRL #NRLTrials #WeAreWarriors@PhotosportNZ
[Read] https://t.co/nGLkuvFgnN pic.twitter.com/ymxBDzi8Mr
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) February 19, 2019
WARRIORS v MELBOURNE STORM
7.50pm, Friday, February 22
Kardinia Park, Geelong
WARRIORS
BUNTY AFOA
TOM ALE
BLAKE AYSHFORD
LACHLAN BURR
SAM COOK
NERIA FOMAI
PATRICK HERBERT
CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA
ADAM KEIGHRAN
SAM LISONE
SEAN MULANEY
ISAIAH PAPALI’I
HAYZE PERHAM
API PEWHAIRANGI
ADAM POMPEY
NATE ROACHE
CHRIS SATAE
BRODY TAMARUA
JAZZ TEVAGA
PAUL TURNER
LIGI SAO
LEWIS SOOSEMEA
COLE WAAKA
HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY
ICYMI 🙌
Seven players from last year's Grand Final squad have been named for our Geelong trial ⚡️
📰 | https://t.co/qql0hbtMSz pic.twitter.com/5cAE1eoyZT
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) February 19, 2019
MELBOURNE STORM
1. Scott Drinkwater
2. Suliasi Vunivalu
3. Marion Seve
4. Curtis Scott
5. Sandor Earl
6. Billy Walters
7. Brodie Croft
8. Christian Welch
9. Brandon Smith
10. Tui Kamikamica
11. Joe Stimson
12. Tom Eisenhuth
13. Nelson Asofa-Solomona
14. Jahrome Hughes
15. Ryan Papenhuyzen
16. Justin Olam
17. Cheyse Blair
18. Curtis Dansey-Smaller
19. Tom Hughes
20. Cooper Johns
21. Harry Grant
22. Nicho Hynes
23. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui
24. Patrick Kaufusi
25. Kelma Tuilagi
27. Matt Stimson
28. Trent Toelau
29. Darryn Schonig
30. Daniel Dole
Categories: Team News + Stats, WARRIORS NEWS
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