League: Warriors ready for fireworks

Ruben Wiki is okay, Awen Guttenbeil steps up from the bench after consistently good performances to replace the injured Louis Anderson, and wing/centre Todd Byrne is out injured as the Warriors prepare for a marquee game against Brisbane.

The home side will recall and recreate some of their 10-year history with a celebration of their first game, against the Broncos, when the teams meet again in the Auckland franchise's 255th match at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.

The Polynesian drummers will be back, the team will enter the field through the tunnel at the north-east end surrounded by flames and first try-scorer Phil Blake is being flown in from Australia. The first captain, Dean Bell, will deliver a message on the big screen from his home in Preston, England, as will first coach John Monie.

Of the side that lost 25-22 to the Broncos in front of 31,500 fans, five-eighth Gene Ngamu, hooker Duane Mann, backrowers Tony Tuimavave and Tony Tatupu and centre Tea Ropati will be in the stands. The only returning veterans of that first game are Brad Thorn who started at the Broncos in June 1994 and Darren Smith, 36, now the second-oldest player to have competed in the NRL behind Cliff Lyons, of Manly.

The Warriors have replaced Byrne, who has a neck injury, with Manu Vatuvai, who missed out recently with flu. Wiki and Monty Betham are over the knee problems that kept them out last weekend.

The Broncos have lost bench forward Neville Costigan after he pleaded guilty to a dangerous throw on West Tigers' Matt Jobson and was banned for two weeks.

Also charged were Dragons lock Shaun Timmins (tripping, one-week ban) and Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello (high tackle, one week), while Panthers wing Brett Howland (dangerous throw) and Melbourne's Kiwi second-rower David Kidwell (grapple tackle) escaped penalty because of a good record but carry demerit points if charged for any repeat offence. The six Broncos State of Origin players Petero Civoniceva, Darren Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan, Casey MacGuire, Dane Carlaw and Thorn were all given Monday off and the whole team rest today so all are expected to be fit this weekend.

Meanwhile, Bulldogs utility Braith Anasta has asked for permission to open talks with South Sydney ahead of the expiration of the anti-tampering deadline in a week's time.

His uncle George Piggins has already been quoted as saying the Rabbitohs are going to offer Anasta A$500,000 a year, which the Bulldogs could not match under the salary cap.

Souths back Todd Polglase has been cleared of serious neck injury after being taken off during the game against the Dragons last weekend. Panthers back Luke Lewis is out for a month with a broken bone in his hand.

Kiwi prop Jason Cayless looks likely to join Daniel Anderson's team, St Helens next year. And Manly wing Scott Donald, 25, has signed with Leeds for three years.

Warriors

Ericsson Stadium, Sunday 2pm

Brent Webb
Francis Meli
Clinton Toopi
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Nathan Fien
Stacey Jones (c)
Ruben Wiki
Lance Hohaia
Iafeta Paleaaesina
Awen Guttenbeil
Wairangi Koopu
Sione Faumuina

Broncos

Karmichael Hunt
Brent Tate
Justin Hodges
Shaun Berrigan
Leon Bott
Darren Lockyer (c)
Brett Seymour
Shane Webcke
Barry Berrigan
Petero Civoniceva
David Stagg
Brad Thorn
Darren Smith

Warriors: Richard Villasanti, Karl Temata, Monty Betham, Simon Mannering
Broncos: Corey Parker, Casey MacGuire, Dane Carlaw, Sam Thaiday