League: Warriors drop Meli for Eels clash

The Warriors have dropped Francis Meli and reshuffled their pack for the game against Parramatta at Ericsson Stadium this Saturday.

Meli, who has asked for a release and arranged to go to England, disappointed in the game against Penrith and after talks with coach Tony Kemp it was decided he needed a break.

"He's had a lot going on lately looking at other options which has clearly impacted on his game," Kemp said.

The 110-game wing will be back in consideration for the next outing away to Melbourne. His replacement this weekend is teenager Simon Mannering, who has had three games off the bench this season.

Ruben Wiki returns to prop, Monty Betham starts at hooker and Nathan Fien at five-eighth. Sione Faumuina moves back to lock as the Warriors revert to a structure used before. Tightening the defence around the ruck was the rationale, Kemp said.

The Eels beat the Warriors 28-18 in Hamilton earlier this season but after a winning streak they have lost their last two games prior to their bye last weekend.

On thirteen occasions this year a team coming off the bye has lost its next game; 11 times teams have won after the break. The Eels beat Manly after their first bye.

Wests three-quarter Shane Elford has signed a two-year deal with Souths from 2006 and Luke MacDougall has re-signed for one more season in 2006.

Storm forward Peter Robinson, 26, has announced that bad knees will force him out of the game at the end of this season.

Cronulla coach Stuart Raper has squashed talk of a senior player revolt but told the squad that if anyone wants to go because they dislike his methods they can.

* Warriors v Eels, Ericsson Stadium, Saturday 7.30pm

Brent Webb, Simon Mannering, Clinton Toopi, Jerome Ropati, Todd Byrne, Nathan Fien, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki, Monty Betham, Steve Price (c), Wairangi Koopu, Awen Guttenbeil, Sione Faumuina

Reserves: Richard Villasanti, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Lance Hohaia, Louis Anderson.

Eels (likely)

Wade Mackinnon, M. Petersen/L. Burt, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Groethe, John Morris, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless (c), Mark Riddell, Paul Stringer, Nathan Hindmarsh, Chad Robinson, Glenn Morrison

Reserves: (from) PJ Marsh, Dean Widders, Adam Peek, Aaron Cannings, Ashley Graham and Henry Perenara.