League: 'Bluey' issues Anzac test warning

Kiwis coach "Bluey" McClennan is looking for the New Zealand players to make an impact in the NRL ahead of the Anzac test in Brisbane, Warriors players included.

"I don't think our guys are going that well at the moment," he said. "They have to perform better than they are. Hopefully they'll improve and start putting their hands up."

McClennan noted that 31 New Zealanders appeared in the NRL last weekend out of the total of 238 players who ran on for 14 teams. "We need everyone playing well," he said.

He was pleased with the performances of Penrith forwards Frank Pritchard and Tony Puletua and with Roosters centre Iosaia Soliola but was quiet on the rest, including 11 Kiwi-eligible Warriors.

The Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless said after the win over the Warriors last weekend that the Auckland side just needed a couple of wins and could then get on a roll. They were as bruising as ever, he said.

The Warriors play a weakened Wests Tigers at Jade Stadium in Christchurch on Saturday night, another chance to get their season back on track and to rectify a 10-game, no-win record for games in New Zealand that are held away from Ericsson.

Coach Ivan Cleary has dropped hooker Lance Hohaia for Queenslander George Gatis, who will revive a career put on hold by injury in 2003.

Gatis played just one game in 2003 after breaking his arm in pre-season with the Cowboys then turning a knee on his return. He has 24 NRL games and turns 28 on Saturday.

Warriors veteran Awen Guttenbeil becomes just the second player to make 150 appearances for the club, behind Stacey Jones. He debuted in 1996 but made just 34 appearances in an injury-plagued first five years.

At Wests, Tim Sheens has to do without hooker Robbie Farah who has a broken bone in his hand and prop Bryce Gibbs after he was concussed last weekend.

Already out were Kiwis Dene Halatau (two weeks, shoulder) and Benji Marshall (four weeks, cheekbone) plus wing Shane Elford (two weeks, shoulder), prop Chris Heighington (two weeks, knee), and Liam Fulton (season over, shoulder).

Sheens will start debutant Isaac de Gois at nine and bring another rookie, Stuart Flanagan off the bench in the hooker and dummy-half role. Halfback Scott Prince goes to five-eighth and Ben Reynolds is the new seven, Daniel Fitzhenry goes back to the wing after a failed experiment last weekend.


Christchurch, 6.30pm Saturday

Warriors: Brent Webb, Todd Byrne, Tony Martin, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, George Gatis, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu, Louis Anderson
Interchange: Grant Rovelli, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Micheal Luck, Patrick Ah Van (18th man)

Wests Tigers: Brett Hodgson (c), Daniel Fitzhenry, Dean Collis, Paul Whatuira, Michael Crockett, Scott Prince, Ben Reynolds, Ryan O'Hara, Isaac de Gois, Todd Payten, A. Laffranchi, Ben Galea, Jamaal Lolesi
Interchange: (from) Stuart Flanagan, Keith Galloway, John Skandalis, Sam Harris, Bronson Harrison, Tevita Metuisela.