League: Brookvale looms as a testing time

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary expects a quick game against the Sea Eagles tomorrow. Photo / Kenny Rodger

SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS
Brookvale Oval, 5pm tomorrow

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was raised on Sydney's northern beaches and began his professional league career at Manly before finishing at the Auckland club with 186 first grade games.

So he knows what a big test it is for any team to get a win in front of the vocal Sea Eagles crowd at Brookvale Oval tomorrow. "It's the biggest test you get."

The 52-6 loss the Warriors suffered there in round three last year was "a sore point, it's a black spot in the memory, you don't forget something like that" and had been discussed in the build-up this week.

The turmoil surrounding the Manly club has not been a factor for consideration as Cleary expects the Eagles to put aside the drama surrounding the suspension of Brett Stewart and the ownership wrangle and bounce back after their 34-12 loss to the Bulldogs in round one.

"They'll be extra determined as will every club that lost in round one. They are performing in front of their faithful - we are expecting an onslaught. It will be a good test of where we're at," Cleary said.

He expects a quick game. The Eagles always come out of the blocks fast at Brookvale and two referees are likely to quicken the pace too.

"If the video referee is not used much, it will be tough."

But Cleary acknowledges the Eagles will miss Stewart. "He has the ability to turn nothing into something - it has to affect them but they have plenty of good players."

One area requiring improvement is defence but the team will be without top tackler Micheal Luck, who has had to withdraw on medical advice over the head shot he suffered at the hands of Fuifui Moimoi last weekend.

"Micheal did a psychometric test yesterday and, on the basis of his results, he could have played against Manly this weekend.

"He hadn't been experiencing any difficulties since last Saturday night but, after discussing the situation with him, my recommendation was that he wasn't fit to play," team doctor John Mayhew said.

The 26-year-old has played all but two games since joining the Warriors in 2006. He will be replaced by Leeson Ah Mau, 19, who made his debut last weekend.

Eagles prop Josh Perry returns after a back injury, pushing Jason King to the bench.

Warriors halfback/hooker Nathan Fien, off contract at the end of this season, has a three-year offer on the table from Huddersfield but wants to stay in Auckland and is hoping to hold form and negotiate a contract extension.

The Warriors Juniors will welcome back utility Alehana Mara who has been recovering from a back injury as they front the formidable Sea Eagles in the curtainraiser at Manly tomorrow.

The Eagles include three New Zealand-raised players - five-eighth Keiran Foran is the younger brother of Warrior Liam, prop Lama Tasi is from Otahuhu and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who was Manly's Toyota Cup player of the year in 2008, was born in Rotorua.

The Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition kicks off this weekend with all 2008 teams backing up despite the loss of 180 local players overseas in the past 12 months.

At the season launch this week, ARL chairman Cameron MacGregor said while the player drain always caused problems for clubs trying to fill their playing roster, it was a matter of pride for the game that they had given those 180 players the opportunity to push on in a professional sporting career.

SEA EAGLES v WARRIORS:

Sea Eagles:

Michael Robertson
Michael Bani
Jamie Lyon
Steve Matai
Andrew Suniula
Chris Bailey
Matt Orford (c)
Brent Kite
Matt Ballin
Josh Perry
A. Watmough
Glenn Hall
Glenn Stewart

Interchange: Heath L'Estrange, Jason King, Adam Cuthbertson, Shane Rodney, George Rose (one to be omitted)

Warriors:

Wade McKinnon
Denan Kemp
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Joel Moon
Nathan Fien
Steve Price (c)
Ian Henderson
Sam Rapira
Simon Mannering
Jacob Lillyman
Leeson Ah Mau

Interchange: Stacey Jones, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ukuma Ta'ai, Aaron Heremaia.