League: Jones' brief - grab game and deliver

Stacey Jones in action for the Warriors. Picture / Dean Purcell

Stacey Jones assumes the Warriors captaincy for their challenge against lowly Souths in Sydney at the weekend, with both teams losing their regular skippers.

Steve Price will be in State of Origin camp with Queensland ahead of the first game of the 2005 series, while Souths' Ashley Harrison was yesterday banned for two weeks for a tackle offence, the first player outed under the new "grapple tackle" rule.

Coach Tony Kemp has told Jones that more is expected of him in running the game than he delivered in the four-point loss to the Roosters.

"Basically, I've told him he has to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and take control.

"Our defence is great and we're getting into good field position, but we need Stacey to be the general inside the opposition's 20 [metres].

"That didn't happen last Sunday and he knows it.

"The halfback dictates the result and that's what we want from Stacey against Souths. We all know he can do it, and so does he."

Ruben Wiki was an option, but Jones got the nod because of his 80 minutes on the field.

Richard Villasanti replaces Price at prop, Awen Guttenbeil steps back up to start after a demotion last week, and Clinton Toopi gets Guttenbeil's bench spot and a chance to redeem his centre spot.

There was no further news on the return dates of Nathan Fien with his eye socket fracture, nor Tony Martin (neck/shoulder).

The game is to be played at the picturesque North Sydney Oval. Souths are promoting breast cancer awareness and pink ribbons will be worn. Promotions to attract women fans include a doughnuts giveaway.

The Souths fans would doubtless rather have a diet of hole-free defence on Saturday night. The Rabbitohs have leaked 297 points in nine games, an average of just on 40 in their last four games, all losses.

The Warriors have conceded 188. They have a slightly better attacking record: 33 tries to 30, 192 points scored to 172.

Harrison was suspended for one week for a grapple tackle around the head/neck of Dallas Johnson during the Storm's 38-12 win last weekend and for a further week for a dangerous throw on Robbie Kearns.

Souths also lose wing Luke "Mad Pup" MacDougall for five weeks for a dangerous throw. Key players sidelined already are outgoing captain Bryan Fletcher, five-eighth John Sutton and Adam MacDougall.

Eleven "head and neck" contact incidents were reviewed by judiciary commissioner Greg McCallum in light of the NRL's introduction of new guidelines for referees last week.

Nine incidents in the Warriors-Roosters game were examined. McCallum ruled that five could have been penalty offences.

* Sydney, Saturday 9.30pm

Warriors

Brent Webb, Francis Meli, Todd Byrne, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Sione Faumuina, Stacey Jones (c), Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, Richard Villasanti, Louis Anderson, Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu

Souths

Todd Polglase, Brad Watts, Shannon Hegarty, Lee Hookey, Garth Wood, John Sutton, Ben Walker, Peter Cusack (c), Trent Young, Scott Logan, David Fa'alogo, Luke Stuart, Shane Rigon

Interchange:

Warriors: Iafeta Paleaaesina, Karl Temata, Clinton Toopi, Tevita Latu. 18th man: Evarn Tuimavave.

Souths: Mark Minichiello, Scott Geddes, Mick Moran, Manase Manuokafoa.