NRL: Warriors hoping Price comes through Origin unscathed

Steven Price changes gear during a Queensland training run. Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors will be hoping their captain Steve Price comes through tonight's State of Origin game without injury and is able to rejoin the side for their Sunday battle with the Sharks, who are also sweating on the availability of their pack leader.

Price's return after state duties for Queensland and that of Cronulla's lock Paul Gallen, who was chosen for New South Wales but couldn't play tonight because of a shoulder injury, are the significant changes to the line-ups named yesterday.

Both coaches stuck with the players who ground out wins in the wet last weekend.

Price had to have a cortisone injection yesterday to help overcome a heel injury that he has been carrying through the season. Right centre Patrick Ah Van was not considered for the trip to Shark Park after leaving the field with a hamstring strain early in the second half against the Tigers and is replaced by Aidan Kirk.

Gallen, named at lock, should overcome his shoulder injury. The Sharks stick with the NRL rookies Scott Porter, 24, at halfback and Tony Caine at hooker ahead of Corey Hughes and Atelea Vea after all performed well in the 13-10 win over Parramatta, the club's first victory since round one.

Defence was the winner for both the Sharks and the Warriors who reversed their fortunes with a 14-0 win over the Wests Tigers. The Warriors set what is believed to be a record tackle count for 80 minutes in the NRL (434).

Their lock Micheal Luck made 57 tackles and after setting the NRL record 74 against Melbourne in April he is now the 2009 season's top defender with an average of 47 per game, Melbourne's Dallas Johnson is just a fraction behind.

The vastly improved defensive effort was the most encouraging feature of the win against the Tigers, coach Ivan Cleary said. "It's the sort of attitude and energy we have to find every week to compete. There's still plenty to work on but at least we're in the right direction."

Gallen yesterday reversed his denial that he had not made a racist comment to Dragons bench man Mickey Paea and dropped his challenge to the A$10,000 fine imposed by the NRL.

"Comments were made in the heat of the moment and I'm sorry for the pain that it has caused Mickey Paea, his family and my family," Gallen said yesterday after stepping down from the Sharks' leadership job on Monday.

"I sorted it out with Mickey straight after the game. I'm not a racist, I have many friends from various racial backgrounds and a brother-in-law from Papua New Guinea. Needless to say this has affected my family deeply.

"I need to work on my temperament at times and this is something that rams that home. I want to show that I'm serious about making some changes. All I can concentrate on now is proving to people that I can win back their support and that I can help the Sharks." The fine will be donated to charity.

The club awaits further bad news, Reni Maitua yesterday witnessing the testing of his B sample after the A sample taken a month ago proved positive for the steroid Clenbuterol. He faces a two-year ban.

Sharks
Nathan Stapleton, Blake Ferguson, Matt Wright, Reece Williams, Luke Covell, Trent Barrett (capt), Scott Porter, Kade Snowden, Tony Caine, Luke Douglas, Atelea Vea, Anthony Tupou, Paul Gallen.

Interchange: Johnny Mannah, Grant Millington, Mitch Brown, Terence Seu Seu, Jacob Selmes, Ben Pomeroy (two to be omitted)

Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke, Aidan Kirk, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Joel Moon, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck.

Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown (one to be omitted)