Warriors look ahead to kick off

A relieved Warriors coach Brian McClennan gave his side the thumbs up as they passed their final pre-season test at Whangarei's Toll Stadium with flying colours.

The sole New Zealand NRL club thrashed the visiting Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles 68-10 in front of 6000 spectators on Saturday night, completing a run of three straight trial wins.

With regular first graders Micheal Luck, Jacob Lillyman, Sam Rapira and Steve Rapira all injured and unavailable for round one, McClennan was monitoring his rising injury toll closely.

He was relieved his team came through unscathed.

"We've come through with flying colours, which is a big positive for us. Obviously, the big one for us is was Jerome Ropati having not played for 10 months. For him to make a good comeback is great," he said.

Ropati skippered the side on Saturday in his long-anticipated comeback.

The 27-year-old centre spent most of last season sidelined after he seriously injured his knee, leaving a dent in the Warriors' midfield.

"For me mentally, this was a great hit-out. It has put me in a good mindset to hopefully play in round one. Ten months is a long time, I was a bit rusty but I'm pleased with my fitness," Ropati said following the match.

Despite their comfortable win over Sunshine Coast, Ropati said the visitors' size, shape and structures provided a reasonable test for the Warriors who face Manly in round one of the NRL at Eden Park, on March 4. However, it only took the Warriors six minutes to begin their romp over the visitors, with prop Ben Matulino running in the first of their 13 tries.

Heading into his 10th NRL season, Ropati did not take long to stamp his mark on the side again. He set up big wing Ivan Penehe to score the first of his two tries, and then scored a try of his own in the second half.

Wing/centre Konrad Hurrell dodged four defenders before offloading to Ropati in a stunning show of fearless strength. The 20-year-old rugby union convert, who penned a deal with the Warriors the previous week, impressed with his pace and power, fending off tacklers, and gaining huge metres.

He did not feature among the try scorers after doing so in the previous trials against Gold Coast and South Sydney but his influence on the contest could not have been more pronounced.

With regular props Lillyman and Sam Rapira out with a bicep and shoulder injury respectively, McClennan got plenty of encouragement in the performances of Matulino and Russell Packer, now at the top of the propping pecking order.

Sunshine Coast struggled to penetrate the Warriors defensive line when they received possession, although skipper Todd Murphy was a standout for the visitors, making several breaks and positioning his side well to send Kane Richards over to score in the first half.

Their only other try came at the end of the match, with Campbell Stewart dotting down when the Warriors relaxed their otherwise relentless defence.

Apart from a handful of errors, it was a clinical display from a well-drilled Warriors outfit.

The squad will now concentrate on their grand final rematch in two weeks against Manly, who succumbed 26-12 to Leeds in a heated World Club Challenge encounter at Headingley on Friday.

"Although Manly lost, they will be back to their best for the opener. They are the benchmark team in the NRL," McClennan said.

Vodafone Warriors 68 (Ivan Penehe 2, Ben Matulino 2, Alehana Mara, Pita Godinet, Ukuma Ta'ai, Kevin Locke, Krisnan Inu, Lewis Brown, Jerome Ropati, Glen Fisiiahi, Ben Henry tries; Krisnan Inu 4 con; Kevin Locke 3 con; Ben Henry con). Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles 10 (Kane Richards, Campbell Stewart tries; Dale Middleton con). HT: 26-6.