League: Price and Wiki rested for pre-season outing

Steve Price

Frontline props Steve Price and Ruben Wiki are being rested for the Warriors' first pre-season match against Canberra in Auckland on Sunday.

Coach Ivan Cleary said today that he wanted to use the fixture at North Harbour Stadium to look at his other frontrow options.

One of the starting berths goes to 30-year-old George Tuakura, who played for a President's 13 against the Warriors in a trial last year.

Cleary said skipper Price and Wiki, who has been named the club's vice-captain, would both get game time in the remaining two trials, against North Queensland and the Bulldogs in Australia.

Meanwhile, centre Tony Martin will play his first match for almost a year when he fills in at fullback for Brent Webb, who has a groin problem.

Martin sat out most of last season with a neck injury.

Warriors:
Tony Martin, Todd Byrne, Jerome Ropati, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei, Sione Faumuina, Nathan Fien, George Tuakura, Lance Hohaia, Evarn Tuimavave, Wairangi Koopu, Awen Guttenbeil, Louis Anderson.
Interchange: Grant Rovelli, Cooper Vuna, Micheal Luck, Epalahame Lauaki, Richard Villasanti, Sam Rapira.

- NZPA