NRL: Cleary picks youth over experience

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary. Photo / Getty Images

Cowboys v Warriors
Townsville, Saturday

Coach Ivan Cleary has once again turned to the club's youth ranks as the Warriors look to escape a worrying case of the mid-season wobbles.

Rookie back rower Elijah Taylor has been named as injured workhorse Micheal Luck's replacement at lock, while promising speedster Glen Fisiiahi also returns to the side to face the Cowboys in Townsville on Saturday night.

Given the daunting nature of the assignment - the red-hot Cowboys are 6-1 at home and can call on Origin stars Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott - Cleary might have been expected to take the conservative route as he plots a recovery from Sunday's second-half meltdown against the Tigers.

But with veteran utility Shaun Berrigan also jettisoned after another indifferent display, Cleary has opted for youth over experience as his side looks to snap a two-game skid.

Taylor appears to have the game to fill Luck's boots, with his average match tackle count of 35.5 ranking him among the NRL's busiest defenders.

The 21-year-old's efforts so far this season have suggested he is Luck's heir-apparent in the 13 jumper. However, Luck's absence for up to eight weeks with a dislocated kneecap has handed Taylor an early opportunity.

Fisiiahi's return to a reshuffled backline has been on the cards for some time. Although he played just three NRL matches before a knee injury, there is little doubt about the flying Fisiiahi's match-winning ability.

With Kevin Locke having nailed down the fullback spot with a string of impressive performances, Fisiiahi is in his less favoured right wing position.

Krisnan Inu shifts from wing to centre, with Lewis Brown reverting to the bench.

The right-side attack has been a problem area for the Warriors all season. The new Inu-Fisiiahi combination has the potential to solve it but it remains to be seen how the pairing will fare on defence.

Aaron Heremaia returns to the side at hooker and with Brett Seymour still out with a facial injury, Shaun Johnson retains his place at halfback.

Johnson will play just his third NRL match, Fisiiahi will be playing his fourth and Taylor his 11th. While all three are undoubted talents, they face a sizeable task in turning around the side's recent fortunes against the Cowboys. The Warriors last won in Townsville in 2002, and have received some nasty beatings in the North Queensland outpost.

With the Melbourne Storm to visit Auckland next week, the Warriors face the prospect of losing all four matches between their two byes.

"We were all hugely disappointed with the way we lost to the Tigers last Sunday because we'd played really well for most of the game," Cleary said. "We've moved on from it now but there are lessons we take with us.

"Now we face one of the toughest away trips in the competition. Yet again we've suffered a significant injury setback to one of our most experienced players in Lucky but it means we have another chance to test the depth of our squad by giving others opportunities."

The Cowboys will be without Kiwi centre Antonio Winterstein and Queensland centre Willie Tonga, both on the injured list, as well as former Warrior Brent Tate and former Manly forward Glenn Hall.

COWBOYS v WARRIORS

Cowboys

Matt Bowen
Ashley Graham
Ben Jones
Gavin Cooper
Kalifa Faifa Loa
Ray Thompson
J Thurston
Matt Scott
Aaron Payne
James Tamou
Tariq Sims
Scott Bolton
Dallas Johnson

Warriors

Kevin Locke
Glen Fisiiahi
Krisnan Inu
S. Mannering (c)
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Shaun Johnson
Russell Packer
Aaron Heremaia
Jacob Lillyman
Feleti Mateo
Steve Rapira
Elijah Taylor

Cowboys interchange: Michael Morgan, Joel Riethmuller, Ashton Sims, Leeson Ah Mau, Will Tupou (one to be omitted).

Warriors interchange: Lance Hohaia, Jeremy Latimore, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown.