League: Roosters to target Warriors weakness

Handle the kickoffs and it should be a good send-off.

The 2006 Warriors farewell their dwindling number of attending fans at Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow against the shaky Roosters, with receptions a key word for Ivan Cleary's side.

Against Melbourne last week, a trio of Manu Vatuvei disasters in fielding kickoffs made the Warriors' job so much harder, and the win even more meritorious.

NRL sides don't need second invitations to home in on weak spots and Ricky Stuart's Roosters will view the giant Vatuvei - who has had a strong try-scoring season - as if he's got a dartboard strapped to his chest.

Vatuvei partially made up for his bloopers in Melbourne, but if he needed a further wake-up call, he should have got it this week when the Warriors signed Wests Tigers wing Michael Crockett, with Cleary seeking added pace next year.

There is a logjam of wings at the Warriors with Cooper Vuna, Patrick Ah Van and Todd Byrne on the books.

Kickoff receptions aside though, it is difficult to see the Roosters notching the win that would make them the first club to reach the 1000 victory mark.

They have been one of the flops of the season. Like all sides, they have had their share of injury and/or suspension problems with brutish English prop Adrian Morley, brilliant fullback Anthony Minichiello and playmaker Braith Anasta - who divides opinion on his ability - among the sidelined stars. Lock Ashley Harrison is also out of the action this week.

With Morley, Brett Finch and Ryan Cross leaving at season's end, the Warriors will be taking on one of the great clubs at a time when it may be flirting with the doldrums.

The Roosters have made moves to bolster their pack for 2007, and the emerging talent includes the 18-year-old New Zealand centre Setaimata Sa, of Canterbury origins. But these are still nervous times for a club with a fantastic record of grand final appearances since 2000.

Tomorrow's match marks the farewell home appearances for Warriors' stalwarts Awen Guttenbeil and Brent Webb, who are headed for England. Webb's parents will travel from Cairns for the Kiwi fullback's last hurrah.

The pair have been among the stars of the three-game winning run - Guttenbeil had a cracker in his testimonial against Cronulla, and Webb led the destruction of the Storm, and should have had a third try but was incorrectly denied by the video ref.

Tomorrow's match will be Ruben Wiki's 265th in first grade, breaking Stephen Kearney's record for a New Zealander.

The Warriors hit tremendous attacking form against Melbourne and looked capable of scoring almost every time they got close to the line.

The Mt Smart faithful will be hoping for more of the same and a happy memory to carry through the summer while contemplating a new season in which they can start afresh ... without a points handicap.

Warriors v Roosters,
Mt Smart Stadium, 2pm tomorrow

Warriors
Brent Webb, Patrick Ah Van, Lance Hohaia, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki, George Gatis, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbeil, Micheal Luck, Louis Anderson
Interchange: Cooper Vuna, Evarn uimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira.

Roosters
Shaun Foleym Amos Roberts, Ryan Cross, Iosia Soliola, Sam Perrett, Brett Finch, Josh Lewis, Anthony Tupou, Heath L'Estrange, David Shillington, Nigel Plum, C. Fitzgibbon (c), Chris Flannery.
Interchange: Shackleton, Jamie Soward, Setaimata Sa, Lopini Paea.