Hugh McGahan: McClennan gamble shows Warrior spirit

Brian McClennan. Photo / Getty Images

It was always envisaged that comparisons would be made between Warriors coach Brian McClennan and Penrith coach Ivan Cleary.

Their personas will be the subject of debate ; one is explicitly animated, the other reserved; one being exceedingly confident of their team's respective chances this season , the other being cautious in how they will perform.

It's having the personality difference of the Mad Butcher and John Key. But no one could ever say the coaches are not enthusiastic about their jobs - they just express it differently.

Now we have another thing to add to the list of differences and that is selections; rookie selections to be precise. This weekend the Warriors will unveil newcomer Konrad Hurrell to the NRL in only his second year of playing rugby league.

That in itself is not new as rugby union recruits have debuted from never playing the code, but there is a stark difference because of the age of the 'boy'.

A union recruit has more experience at higher tempo, intense football to that of a junior league player, hence he will adapt quicker.

I mention junior football because Hurrell has been elevated from the Toyota Cup under-20s competition and prior to that he was playing 1st XV schoolboy rugby. McClennan is taking a risk but he has the confidence in Hurrell to perform to a respectable level, but do you think Steve Matai or Jaime Lyon will gently welcome him to First Grade football?

How about David Williams coming off the wing for a spot tackle? My mind winces. They will initiate him the hardest way possible and it will be intimidating both physically and verbally. No matter how much support his team mates will give him today, it's how Hurrell responds mentally to the onslaught.

I think Hurrell has talent and will make a career in sport but I think a softer path would have been better.

We look at more recent inductees at the Warriors; Shaun Johnson last year broke on to the scene with huge impact but that was after the Toyota Cup and then through the NSW Cup with the Vulcans. His body and mind were being conditioned to playing against older and more experienced players.

Then he was given time off the bench to introduce him to the much harder, faster pace of the NRL.

Kevin Locke was introduced through playing on the wing where you are not exposed as much and we have seen his rapid improvement. Lewis Brown, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer and Elijah Taylor have progressed into confident, capable and established players.

Is there a big risk? Of course there is, but McClennan is confident to give it a go boots'n'all. This is what we have grown to like about 'Bluey'; he wears his heart on his sleeve and his enthusiasm is infectious.

He will not shy away from what he believes and in this case he has said: "Stuff it, let's give him a crack." Whether or not it works, it will not faze him from continuing to change the way things are done. It's refreshing and it's transparent, you aren't left wondering. Brian has clearly altered how the supporters should respond to this coach of the Warriors; get on board for the ride, but hold on tight'cos it's going to be a roller coaster.