NRL: Taylor returns to face Storm

Elijah Taylor. Photo / Getty Images

Back rower Elijah Taylor is set to make a return to the New Zealand Warriors' line-up for their NRL preliminary final against minor premiers the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old rookie was today named on the interchange bench, coming in for Ukuma Ta'ai, who was used as a starting second rower in last Friday night's 22-20 semi-final victory against Wests Tigers.

After making his first-grade debut against Cronulla in the fourth round this year, Taylor played 17 straight games before being rested against Newcastle. He returned a week later for two more appearances against Penrith and St George Illawarra.

The Storm finished the regular season with 42 points, winning 19 of their 24 matches, two of their five losses coming in the last two rounds before the finals.

While the Warriors started their play-offs campaign with a 10-40 loss to Brisbane, Melbourne ground out an 18-8 victory against eighth-ranked Newcastle to advance to week three of the finals.

"They've been the best side across the whole season, coming back really impressively from what they went through last year," said Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary.

"Once again they're the benchmark. They've got three of the best players in the game and you always know you have to work so hard just to compete with them.

"We were up against it facing the Tigers last week and the challenge will be that much greater this week."

Warriors team:

1 Kevin Locke
2 Bill Tupou
3 Lewis Brown
4 Krisnan Inu
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 James Maloney
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Sam Rapira
9 Aaron Heremaia
10 Jacob Lillyman
11 Feleti Mateo
12 Simon Mannering (c)
13 Micheal Luck
Interchange:
14 Lance Hohaia
15 Russell Packer
16 Ben Matulino
17 Elijah Taylor
20 Steve Rapira