Play nzherald.co.nz's rugby Pick the Score competition - go to: pickthescore.nzherald.co.nz
KEY POINTS:
Kiwis rugby league great Stacey Jones says Nathan Fien deserves the first crack at the New Zealand Warriors halfback role this year - but that won't stop him trying to win it back.
Jones is expected to suit up for his first game with the Warriors in more than three years on Thursday in a National Rugby League trial against Melbourne at Hamilton.
The halfback legend came out of retirement on a one-year deal to rejoin the NRL club in 2009, potentially upsetting Fien's chances of playing halfback after his late season form surge in 2008.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has indicated both will get a chance in the key position in the three trial games leading up to the round one clash against Parramatta on March 14.
But Jones said Fien's 2008 performance, which got the Warriors to within one win of a grand final and helped steer New Zealand to their stunning World Cup triumph in Australia, showed he was most deserving of the No 7 jersey.
"There's no question that Nathan Fien is the incumbent and with the form that he showed for the Warriors and the Kiwis last year he deserves to be number one halfback at the moment," Jones said.
But the Warriors' record try and pointscorer warned he was "as keen as any of the boys" to play in the halves and would be working hard to get there.
"I may have to bide my time and wait but I'm certainly there to put pressure on players to get some game time," said Jones, who confirmed he was feeling "pretty good" despite the "odd niggle" that had stopped him from training twice.
The Warriors will face last year's NRL grand finalists in their first pre-season match in Hamilton on Thursday, and while Cleary won't name the team until later today he said Jones was set to play.
Cleary said the Storm would be a good barometer to see how his Warriors side were travelling.
"That's not only because of how good they are but because they trial really well and they start the season fast so I'm sure they'll be ready to go," Cleary said.
"That's exactly what we want."
The Warriors will also trial against North Queensland at North Harbour Stadium on February 22 and Gold Coast in Lismore on February 28.
- AAP
