League: Fit Ta'ai ready to work his magic

NZ Herald

6 Aug, 2011 03:24 AM4 mins to read

Ukuma Ta'ai is back to fitness after being sidelined with a knee injury. Photo / APN

Lucky charm Ukuma Ta'ai will step into the breach if Warriors captain Simon Mannering fails to recover from a knee injury in time for tonight's showdown with the Broncos in Brisbane.

The hulking Tongan back rower travelled with the team as cover after Lewis Brown was confirmed as a replacement for centre Joel Moon. Brown was originally named as 18th man but was promoted to the starting line-up when Moon remained in Auckland to be with his sick child.

The Warriors have won all six matches Ta'ai has played this season, the last of which was the round 11 victory over the Rabbitohs. A knee injury sidelined Ta'ai for two months and he has been working his way back to fitness with feeder club Auckland Vulcans in recent weeks.

Mannering was able to complete laps around the outside of the Mt Smart Stadium pitch on Wednesday without any apparent difficulty but he didn't attempt any lateral movement and his knee was heavily strapped.

Lance Hohaia and Jerome Ropati served as Mannering's jogging buddies. While Ropati isn't expected to feature until next season as he recovers from a knee reconstruction, Hohaia said he was close to a return.

With the likes of Kristnan Inu, Brett Seymour, Glen Fisiiahi and Steve Rapira still languishing in the Vulcans, coach Ivan Cleary doesn't lack for quality selection options. Whether he uses them isn't dependent on his team continuing a four-match win streak that has rekindled hopes of a top-four finish.

"Sometimes the result doesn't matter," Cleary said. "You can lose and play well or you can win and it's not going as good as you think. It is just a case-by-case thing.

"I'm not going to say just because we keep winning we'll keep the same team and I'm not going to say if we lose we change."

The result tonight most certainly matters. A win would pull the Warriors within two points of the Broncos, dramatically increasing the prospect of the Warriors hosting a finals match in Auckland on the same night the All Blacks play the opening match of the Rugby World Cup, against Tonga at Eden Park.

Such a clash would be a logistical nightmare, with concerns about transport, accommodation and policing already raised.

"We have been liaising with the NRL and the city about logistical matters but those questions are best answered by the city," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said.

For now it appears to be a case of wait and see, with a Warriors defeat tonight considerably decreasing the possibility of a clash.

Suncorp Stadium has been a happy hunting ground for New Zealand league in recent times, with the Kiwis claiming the 2008 World Cup and 2010 Four Nations titles at Australasia's premier league and rugby venue.

"It's the sort of ground everybody likes to play at," Cleary said. "It's one of those venues where it's not hard to get up for the game."

The Warriors thrashed the Queenslanders in both meetings last season, winning 48-16 in round three and 36-4 in the return match at Mt Smart.

After missing the finals for the first time in 18 seasons last year, the Broncos have enjoyed a resurgent campaign under new coach Andy Griffin.

With skipper Darren Lockyer to tie the all-time appearance record held by Steve Menzies and Terry Lamb, the Broncos certainly won't lack motivation.

* Former highly rated Warriors junior Siuatonga Likiliki will not return to the club next season.

Broncos v Warriors

Suncorp Stadium, 9.30 tonight

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