League: Betham's big game vital for Warriors

Monty Betham

The Storm and Monty Betham both mark centuries in the NRL this weekend - the Storm in home games and Betham in games all-up after both started in 1999.

The Melbourne club is still seeking credibility in the AFL market and struggles with the lowest crowd figures in the premiership competition, despite having won in its second year after start-up and remaining contenders most times, including this year.

Betham has taken longer than he should have to reach 100 games in the NRL since his debut because of knee injuries and a broken forearm. But in a 2005 season in which the Warriors have struggled, he is one player who has kept his credibility as a consistent performer for them.

On Saturday night at Olympic Park the Warriors need a big but controlled game from Betham as they get their last grab at a playoffs straw, because another loss would definitely sink their season.

Coach Tony Kemp was forced to rejig his team yesterday after Lance Hohaia was ruled out for the rest of this season with a knee injury and centre Jerome Ropati was ruled unavailable for this game with a leg problem.

Francis Meli comes back to the wing after a one-week rest and Manu Vatuvai returns to the bench after injury.

Clinton Toopi is dropped to the bench, Simon Mannering shifts into centre and Sione Faumuina takes the other mid-field spot with Louis Anderson at lock.

* Olympic Park, 7.30pm Saturday

NZ Warriors

Brent Webb
Francis Meli
Sione Faumuina
Simon Mannering
Todd Byrne
Nathan Fien
Stacey Jones
Ruben Wiki
Monty Betham
Steve Price (c)
Wairangi Koopu
Awen Guttenbeil
Louis Anderson

Melbourne Storm

Billy Slater
Matt Geyer
Matt King
Steve Bell
Jake Webster
Scott Hill
Matt Orford
Robbie Kearns (c)
Cameron Smith
Ian Donnelly
David Kidwell
Ryan Hoffman
Dallas Johnson

Interchange:

Warriors (from): Richard Villasanti, Karl Temata, Manu Vatuvai, Clinton Toopi, Iafeta Paleaaesina.

Storm (from): Dennis Scott, Jamie Feeney, Mal Kaufusi, Brett White, Peter Robinson and Alex Chan.