NRL: Adam Blair, Issac Luke, Tohu Harris to start for Warriors

Issac Luke of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images.

The likely return of Issac Luke and Tohu Harris can't come soon enough for the Warriors.

The Kiwis' duo were named on Tuesday to face the Dragons this week, after they missed the 36-12 loss to the Gold Coast through injury.

There were a number of problems with the Warriors' display last Sunday, arguably their worst defeat of the season, given the circumstances, with the attitude and commitment on defence a glaring issue.

But they also missed the organisation and spark of Luke at dummy half, and their attacking game all over the place in the second half.

And the right edge defence, which Harris has led with aplomb for most of this year, was a ragged, disorganized, mess.

Harris (knee) and Luke (calf) were listed in the initial line-up for last Sunday's encounter but were later ruled out after failing to recover sufficiently.

But it appears likely they'll take the field at Wollongong, where the Warriors need to arrest a long losing streak (10 games).

"I'm pretty confident," coach Stephen Kearney told Radio Sport, when asked about the prospects for the pair. "They [have] had an extra week's preparation now and I am pretty confident they will be good to go."

Harris last appeared against the Sharks in round 16, and will add starch to the defence and power to their attacking game.

Adam Blair also returns from suspension, meaning the pack will have three changes from the combination that took the field on the Gold Coast.

Simon Mannering and Joseph Vuna are relegated to the bench, along with Jazz Tevaga.

While it was a shock earlier this year to see Mannering outside the starting XIII, and an adjustment for the former captain, it's a strategy that has worked well this campaign, with the Warriors winning five of the seven matches where Mannering has been used in an interchange role.

There are, perhaps surprisingly, no changes to the backline. Kearney has shown his loyalty in the past, though his patience must have been tested in recent weeks.

The last time the two teams met in round seven in Auckland in late April, the Warriors prevailed 20-12 to inflict the Dragon's first loss of the season, in one of the most compelling performances by the Auckland club this year.

But both teams have been battling for form recently, each winning just one of their last four games.

Warriors
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c)
2 David Fusitu'a
3 Gerard Beale
4 Solomone Kata
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Blake Green
7 Shaun Johnson
8 James Gavet
9 Issac Luke
10 Agnatius Paasi
11 Isaiah Papali'i
12 Tohu Harris
13 Adam Blair
Interchange:
14 Jazz Tevaga
15 Simon Mannering
16 Leivaha Pulu
17 Bunty Afoa
18 Peta Hiku
20 Mason Lino
21 Sam Lisone
22 Joseph Vuna
Head coach: Stephen Kearney