League: Warriors seek thrust from Lolohea

Tuimoala Lolohea of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Versatile youngster given another chance to cement place with first-choice Tomkins sidelined by injury

The Warriors will again look for talented youngster Tuimoala Lolohea to provide attacking thrust from fullback for their 20th anniversary match against the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.

With first-choice Sam Tomkins sidelined for four to six weeks with a knee injury, the versatile Lolohea will have his second start in the position in four games this season.

The 20-year-old played fullback in round one against Newcastle when Tomkins was out with a hamstring injury -- excelling with 213m and 10 tackle breaks.

After starting at centre against Parramatta last Saturday, he played the final 29 minutes at fullback after the England international left the field. Another strong showing against Brisbane could see him make the position his own over the coming weeks.

"Tui has a big opportunity at fullback with Sam out for a month or so," said assistant coach Tony Iro.

"He was outstanding there when we played Newcastle and had more experience when Sam went off last week. We all know the ability he has and have real confidence in him."

Lolohea's shift allows centre Matt Allwood to start his first NRL match for the club, with regular midfielders Konrad Hurrell (knee) and Ngani Laumape (knee) both expected to return from injury in the next fortnight.

Allwood becomes Warrior No 199 and the seventh player to make his debut this season after Solomone Kata, Ryan Hoffman, Bodene Thompson, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete and Jonathan Wright.

The 22-year-old Allwood signed with the Warriors after making 11 NRL appearances for the Canberra Raiders last season. So far this year he has played twice for the club's New South Wales Cup side -- at centre and fullback -- as well as being the NRL team's 18th man twice.

"Matt gives us NRL experience and is well versed in what we do," said Iro. "He has trained in the centres throughout the offseason as well as playing in trials."

The rest of the side remains unchanged with the same starting forward pack being named for the third straight week.

The match marks the 20th anniversary of the Warriors' debut against the Broncos on March 10, 1995, a game Brisbane won 25-22.

The Broncos have been their most regular opponents, this being the 36th clash, with Brisbane winning 20 and the Warriors 15. At Mt Smart Stadium the Warriors have a 10-7 edge.

The Warriors have won the past four encounters at Mt Smart and six of the past seven but this time they face a Brisbane side reunited with coach Wayne Bennett who was at the helm when the two clubs first met in 1995.