NRL: Fisiiahi retained at the back for Warriors

Warrior Glen Fisiiahi. File photo / Stephen Parker

Glen Fisiiahi, who has scored four tries in the Warriors' last three games, has again been named at fullback to face Brisbane at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Warriors' quest for a fifth straight win will be in the hands of a familiar combination in Sunday's 16th-round NRL clash against the Broncos.

Head coach Matthew Elliott today named the same 17 players used in the 23-12 win over the Sydney Roosters on June 16 with fullback Kevin Locke and prop Suaia Matagi added on a six-man bench.

Locke is back in the frame after recovering from the hip flexor injury which ruled him out of the wins over Manly and the Roosters while Matagi stays in the mix after being included in the initial squad last time.

While Ben Matulino has been named in jersey No 10 and Russell Packer on the bench in No 14, it's still anticipated Packer will start as he has done recently alongside fellow front rower Sam Rapira.

The formula has served the Warriors well with Matulino and Jacob Lillyman making a huge impact off the bench.

In the wins against Newcastle, Brisbane, Manly and the Roosters, Matulino's series of metres gained reads 136, 123, 159 and 147 while Lillyman's numbers have been 126, 159, 154 and 89; he played only 31 minutes in his last game.

Lillyman will be back with the Warriors on Thursday after filling the 18th man role with Queensland for tomorrow night's second State of Origin battle against New South Wales in Brisbane.

Like the Warriors, the Broncos will also be coming off a bye not only refreshed but reinforced by the expected presence of their Queensland Origin players Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker and Matt Gillett who all missed the heavy 56-18 loss to the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium on June 3.

"Our next match is always our toughest and this one against Brisbane will be a huge challenge for us,'' Elliott said.

"We worked really hard and made some significant improvements before the bye but we all know there's a long way still to go.

"We might be facing the same club again for the second time in a matter of weeks but the team itself will be a lot different to the one we met last time.''

Warriors: Glen Fisiiahi, Ngani Laumape, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, Simon Mannering (c), Elijah Taylor. Interchange: (from) Russell Packer, Jacob Lillyman, Todd Lowrie, Dominique Peyroux, Kevin Locke, Suaia Matagi