League: Five Warriors under the spotlight in 2009

Steve Price will play his 300th first grade game in the Warriors' season opener against the Eels. Photo / Greg Bowker

Expectations are rising at Mt Smart. The bookies have them as third-equal NRL favourites after a storming finish to 2008, close to 30,000 fans turned out for their two home trial matches and even Phil Gould has them among his contenders. It is a big year for the Warriors and as Michael Brown reports, it's bigger for some than most.

WADE MCKINNON
This time last year, everyone was mourning the fact Wade McKinnon was out injured, possibly for the season. It seemed the Warriors' title hopes had evaporated with McKinnon's knee injury.

The best teams have top-class fullbacks to provide a spark from the back and, as well as Lance Hohaia did as a fill-in, he didn't offer what McKinnon does.

McKinnon is a volatile player. He has a 'special' relationship with referees, can rile his own team-mates because of his temper and can be a difficult individual when dealing with the media.

But he is a brilliant player. He's quick, reads the game well and has an incredible ability to pop up on someone's shoulder at just the right time.

A healthy Wade McKinnon should mean a healthy season.

SAM RAPIRA
For four seasons, the Warriors were the envy of any side in the competition when it came to front rowers. In Steve Price and Ruben Wiki, they had guaranteed yardage, solidity, leadership and experience. Price is still there, of course, but Wiki has finally retired after 16 seasons of NRL. It is a huge void to fill and the onus is on Sam Rapira to try to do that.

Rapira is an experienced campaigner in his own right, even at the age of just 21. He has already played 63 NRL games in three seasons (appearing in every Warriors game of the past two years) and 11 tests for the Kiwis. He's not the biggest prop in the game but he has the athleticism, skills and maturity to do well.

This year, though, he needs to shine. There's no hiding behind the big shadow once cast by Wiki.

STACEY JONES
The Little General is trying to put a curb on expectations but it's not working. Everyone is assuming it will be the same Stacey Jones who lines up for the Warriors this season as the one who was not only the world's best halfback in 2002 but the world's best player.

The early signs are encouraging. He was good against the Storm and Cowboys but he's been out of the game for 18 months and he's not even guaranteed a start. The 32-year-old is battling it out with Nathan Fien for the No 7 jersey and the word from inside the club was that whoever shone against the Titans last night would have got the job against the Eels on March 14. Those plans were scuppered when Jones was a late withdrawal with a calf injury.

There is no doubt Jones will see game time sooner rather than later but even if he doesn't, his mere presence has lifted the Warriors and will push others on to bigger and better things. And if he is the back-up, it gives you much more confidence than someone like Grant Rovelli.

STEVE PRICE
NRL boss David Gallop last week encouraged Steve Price to keep playing until he was 40, given Price's stated desire to one day have his job. The reality is, however, Price won't last that long and this season could be his last.

The honorary Kiwi is suiting up for his 16th season of first grade (he plays his 300th match next weekend), turns 35 in a fortnight and has said before that he wants to get out before he finds himself tumbling down the other side.

He has two premiership titles with the Bulldogs (he missed the 2004 final through injury) and would love nothing more than to add a third. It would be a great way to go out.

RUSSELL PACKER
The Warriors have a better tradition of late of unearthing good local talent. Last season Ben Matulino followed the trail trodden by the likes of Simon Mannering, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei and Rapira. This year it's harder to see a rookie stamping himself on the Warriors, simply because of the depth and experience coach Ivan Cleary has accumulated.

Russell Packer is the most likely to make an impression. The 19-year-old front-rower showed he was ready for the NRL last year when he played five games but he was still raw and his way was largely blocked by Price, Wiki, Rapira and Evarn Tuimavave. He will play a lot more in 2009.

Ukuma Ta'ai is another who could feature this season. The 22-year-old second-rower was plucked from the Mt Albert Lions and an illustration of how highly he is rated at Mt Smart Stadium is the fact he was among the 20-man squad taken to the Gold Coast last night. He's a physical ball runner but is said to have better hands and a better temperament than the outgoing Epalahame Lauaki.

Elijah Taylor is arguably the most exciting young talent at the club but having just turned 19, his contribution will be confined largely to the under-20s.