League: Warriors confirm nines squad

Herald online

27 Jan, 2015 02:10 PM2 mins to read

Shaun Johnson. Photo / Richard Robinson.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden has confirmed the four players to drop off his original squad for the NRL Nines at Eden Park this weekend.

McFadden initially named an extended 22-man squad to prepare for the tournament including most of the club's biggest names.

Among them was Warriors and Kiwis captain Simon Mannering. McFadden was keen to have the 212-game NRL veteran involved but has reached a decision not to run with him ahead of what will be another demanding NRL season.

"He just wasn't right, he's had a couple of little niggles so we decided not to risk him so we'll gets him ready for the start of the season," McFadden said.

"We obviously pushed him quite hard in the preseason and sometimes you pick up niggles. He's picked up a couple, only very minor, so he'll be alright."

Also left out of the 22 are Dominique Peyroux and Sebastine Ikahihifo plus new signing Jonathan Wright, who is still serving a suspension imposed late in his 2014 campaign with Cronulla. All three players were involved in last year's inaugural NRL Nines.

"They were very disappointed. I could tell that players were really pushing for those spots in training and it essay difficult decision to leave some of those guys out," McFadden explained.

"Dom's on stand-by just in case. Sebastian's been ruled out as well, he had a bit of sickness last week.

"But at the end of the day we've picked a squad that we think will hopefully do a good job and represent New Zealand and the Warriors well."

Shaun Johnson captains a side including nine players who featured in the 2014 tournament, two of that group being new recruits Ryan Hoffman and Bodene Thompson.

Also lining up will be 18-year-old five-eighth Nathaniel Roache, one of the youngest players to take part in the tournament, and one of five members from the 2014 NYC premiership-winning Junior Warriors.

NRL AUCKLAND NINES - WARRIORS