NRL: Wright, Tomkins to face Raiders

Journeyman back Jonathan Wright will make his debut for the Warriors against Canberra on Sunday. Picture / Dean Purcell

Backline rearranged after injury to Hurrell in last week’s loss

Jonathan Wright will make his club debut and Sam Tomkins returns from injury in two changes for the Warriors' second-round NRL encounter with the Raiders in Canberra on Sunday.

Wright is named on the right wing and Tomkins is back at fullback after missing the Newcastle clash last Saturday with a hamstring complaint.

The selection results in Tuimoala Lolohea being switched to the centres for the injured Konrad Hurrell. Solomone Kata is also named there after being moved to the wing against the Knights, when would-be debutant Ken Maumalo was ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury.

Utility Ben Henry reverts to the interchange bench along with veteran hooker Nathan Friend and rookie props Sam Lisone and Albert Vete, both impressive in their debuts last weekend.

Out of the squad is prop Suaia Matagi with outside back Matt Allwood named as 18th man.

Wright, who was completing a three-game suspension last week, is set to become the third of the major recruits to make his club debut.

He was signed in December after amassing 91 appearances for the Eels, Bulldogs and Sharks since his debut in 2009; his games have been spread between the wing and the centres.

Warriors assistant coach Tony Iro said Hurrell was still in a lot of discomfort from the left knee injury he received in the Newcastle contest.

After going off the field early in the game he was able to return later to play out the match but Iro said Hurrell's knee was still swollen.

"With Sam returning, Tui goes to the centres," said Iro. "He has trained in the outside backs throughout the preseason. Obviously he's a talented kid and we know what he's capable of.

"Jono is very experienced with close to 100 games. He was brought to the club to fill that role of being able to play on the wing or in the centres."

The Warriors will start with the same pack used against the Knights, a combination packed with experience. Captain Simon Mannering will be playing his 214th NRL match, second rower Ryan Hoffman his 247th, prop Jacob Lillyman his 188th and fellow front rower Ben Matulino his 154th.

Hooker Thomas Leuluai has played almost 300 games in the NRL and Super League combined, while second rower Bodene Thompson plays his 87th match this weekend.

On the bench veteran hooker Nathan Friend takes his tally to 199 games leaving him in line to achieve his 200th milestone in the first home game of the year at Mt Smart Stadium on March 21 against Parramatta.

Mannering was again the team's workhorse last Saturday as he topped the tackle count with 52 tackles and didn't miss one.

Debutant props Albert Vete and Sam Lisone both impressed, Vete making 125m from 19 runs and Lisone 91 from 13 plus 28 tackles.

Raiders v Warriors
GIO Stadium, 8.30pm Sunday
Jack Wighton
Sisa Waqa
Jarrod Croker (c)
Edrick Lee
Jordan Rapana
Blake Austin
Mitch Cornish
Josh Papalii
Josh Hodgson
Dane Tilse
Jarrad Kennedy
Iosia Soliola
Shaun Fensom
Sam Tomkins
Jonathan Wright
Tuimoala Lolohea
Solomone Kata
Manu Vatuvei
Chad Townsend
Shaun Johnson
Jacob Lillyman
Thomas Leuluai
Ben Matulino
Bodene Thompson
Ryan Hoffman
S Mannering (c)

Raiders: Josh McCrone, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Paul Vaughan, Luke Bateman
Warriors: Nathan Friend, Ben Henry, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Matt Allwood
Journeyman back Jonathan Wright will make his debut for the Warriors against Canberra on Sunday.