![Vatuvei a 'week by week' situation](/pf/resources/images/placeholders/placeholder_l.png?d=815)
Vatuvei a 'week by week' situation
'He's a legend of our club, he's made a mistake and it has hurt him,' says Warriors coach Andrew McFadden of winger on medical leave.
'He's a legend of our club, he's made a mistake and it has hurt him,' says Warriors coach Andrew McFadden of winger on medical leave.
Today's match against Penrith feels like a yet another "new start' for the Warriors.
Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei has broken his silence about his involvement in the prescription pills and energy drinks scandal that has rocked the club.
Penrith Panthers head coach Anthony Griffin has praised the Warriors for how they handled recent controversy.
Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson have both been named to face the Panthers in Christchurch on Saturday.
Kiwi great Hugh McGahan has called on Warriors to block their pill-popping players from an immediate return to first grade.
The six Warriors players punished for breaking team protocol have been reintegrated into the squad and apologised to the club's staff, sponsors and members.
COMMENT: The Warriors face yet another week of intense scrutiny as the public wait to learn the how the banned six players are brought in from the cold.
Monty Betham is struggling to understand how friend and former teammate Manu Vatuvei became embroiled in the prescription pills and energy drinks scandal.
The sister of Bodene Thompson has written a passionate open letter on Facebook aimed at anyone who's ever written negative comments online about an athlete.
Manu Vatuvei's medical leave from the Warriors was a shock, having shown incredible physical and mental resilience
Manu Vatuvei has been given leave from the Warriors on medical grounds following last week's drama when six players were stood down for breaching team protocol.
Warriors will not be awarded this year's Auckland Nines title despite the Parramatta Eels being stripped of the title and almost certainly the $400k prize money.
There are a number of reported reasons why sports people take the cocktail - a main one is replicating recreational drugs without running foul of anti-doping rules.
The Kangaroos are a strong chance of introducing a war dance when Australia and New Zealand host the next rugby league World Cup in 2017.
Five of the six Warriors players banned by the club have admitted to mixing prescription drugs with energy drinks.
Warriors managing director Jim Doyle says the club is "more than justified" in extending the punishment of the "gang of six" into the international arena.
COMMENT: The Warriors' "line in the sand" has turned into a deep sea trench. It feels like a step too far and it is certainly unprecedented.
A patched-up Warriors side exorcised some of the demons of a miserable past week with a cathartic NRL victory at Mt Smart Stadium today.
Time to swing the axe. This purge must start at the top. These are the players whose contracts need to be cut, writes Chris Rattue.
It appears that Manu Vatuvei, Ben Matulino and Bodene Thompson have been blocked from representing the Kiwis by their club.
A depleted Warriors side have triumphed in Auckland today, beating the Dragons 26-10.
COMMENT: The Warriors are at risk of permanently alienating fans after some lousy performances.
Andrew McFadden is remaining defiant, saying he's the right man for the job, has the backing of the playing group and can get the Warriors out of the mess.
The Warriors have always had a following that probably ranks as the most loyal of any sport in New Zealand.