KEY POINTS:
Epalahame Lauaki has paid the price for a high error and penalty rate and two rookies go back to under-20s as Warriors coach Ivan Cleary seeks to stiffen the team's defence.
He needs to - no other team has allowed bottom-placed Souths to put 35 points on them.
Steve Price and Brent Tate were named yesterday to back up against the Sharks in Cronulla on Saturday after playing tonight's State of Origin for Queensland.
Veterans Ruben Wiki and Price start, a departure from the norm which has lately had Wiki coming off the bench, and another old stager in Logan Swann is recalled after the prod of being left out for two weeks.
Lauaki and teenagers Sonny Fai and Russell Packer are the three departures after the loss to Souths. Lance Hohaia returns to fullback after playing off the interchange against Souths while Sam Rapira, Wairangi Koopu and Patrick Ah Van go back to a five-man bench to be cut this week.
Also on that bench is another highly-rated under-20s player who has been in barnstorming form, especially on defence. Given the frailties there, it's likely 19-year-old Wellington-born Ben Matulino will get a run.
"With Sonny and Russell, it was always part of the plan for them to go back to the NYC team after having a taste of NRL football," Cleary said. "It's part of their development."
Swann was brought back specifically as a defender. "Our defensive effort wasn't acceptable against South Sydney and it hasn't been what we would expect in several other games this season. We have to get it right against Cronulla and Logan will help us there," Cleary said.
The Sharks are an unlikely looking lot on paper, Paul Gallen and Greg Bird just emerging as State of Origin players as halfback Brett Kimmorley's winds up, the rest a bunch of journeymen assembled from far and wide.
Their defensive record is good, 160 points better than the Warriors who are letting in an average 30 a game while the Sharks concede around 16. That shows a team spirit and an ethic of playing for each other that the Warriors continue to turn on and off.
* Cowboys utility Travis Burns pleaded guilty to two tackle charges laid by the judiciary after their loss to Penrith and has been banned for four weeks; Canberra prop Scott Logan will be out for three weeks for a dangerous throw; and Bulldogs wing Matt Utai is out for eight weeks with a knee tear.
