NRL: Young prop makes light of Warriors' lesser experience

Russell Packer. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Age and the number of National Rugby League (NRL) matches will be irrelevant for prop Russell Packer when runs out for the New Zealand Warriors against the Bulldogs in Sydney tomorrow night.

While both clubs are battling a growing injury toll, the Warriors' wounded include the likes of 313-game prop Steve Price, and other experienced campaigners in skipper Simon Mannering, fellow back rower Micheal Luck, centre Jerome Ropati, halfback Brett Seymour and winger Manu Vatuvei.

Their absence has left the Warriors light on experience compared with the Bulldogs.

The unavailability of Price, Mannering and Luck, who have all captained the side, also means centre Brent Tate has been entrusted with the job of caretaker skipper.

Tate is one of just two players in the starting 13 with more than 100 first-grade appearances, the other being fullback Lance Hohaia.

Canterbury, on the other hand, will have eight centurions, including a new one in prop Ben Hannant, and three with more than 200 games in halfback Brett Kimmorley, fullback Luke Patten and second rower Andrew Ryan.

Packer, 20 and with 30 NRL outings to his name, isn't fazed the disparity in the numbers.

"I don't really look at the age too much," he said.

"If you're out there playing, you're expected to do a job and that rule applies to everyone who's playing this week."

Of more concern to Packer was helping the Warriors to bounce back from their 6-14 loss to Manly last weekend, a result that left them with a 2-2 win-loss record and in sixth place on the table.

"We have to prove to ourselves that we're a different team from last year and we won't let a setback knock us down."

Packer has produced a couple of strong performances this season, but was, by his own admission, short of his best against the Sea Eagles and he'll be looking to "get back on the horse" against the Bulldogs.

The Sydneysiders are also looking to put a last-up loss behind them, having gone down to South Sydney 16-38 a week after belting the Sydney Roosters 60-14 for their first win of the campaign.

The Warriors own loss to Manly had followed a big win over Brisbane and Packer said the big swing in both sets of results showed that nothing could be taken for granted.

"You have to be on your toes every week because every week you're playing opposition that can beat you. But I think, if we play to the best of our ability, we will be hard to beat."

The match at ANZ Stadium will involve a special tribute by the Bulldogs to Price, who this week announced that he would retire at the end of the season.

Price, 36, spent 11 seasons with Canterbury, many as their skipper, before his move across the Tasman at the end of 2004.

Packer said Price had been at the Warriors from the moment he arrived there as a 17-year-old and it would be unusual not to have him around next year.

"He's a familiar figure around the club for me and he's passed on a lot of knowledge and guidance," Packer said.

"We want to send him out on the best note possible and that's him lifting up the trophy at the end of the year."

- NZPA