NRL: Injured Maloney named for Tigers clash

James Maloney was forced off the field in last Sunday's 26-24 victory over South Sydney. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Injured standoff James Maloney is being given every chance to make the Warriors' line-up for their 12th-round National Rugby League fixture against Wests Tigers at Sydney on Friday night.

The former Melbourne pivot was forced off the field with injuries to his back and hip in last Sunday's 26-24 victory over South Sydney.

While he has heavy bruising, he is moving more freely and was today named in a largely unchanged side for the Wests Tigers match.

"He's an outside chance of being right so we'll give him every opportunity," Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said.

Utility Joel Moon has been named on a five-man bench to cover for Maloney.

Moon has been playing for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup since the Warriors' eighth-round loss to the Canberra Raiders.

With first-choice prop Sam Rapira sidelined for six weeks by a kneecap injury, Jesse Royal has been named to start in the front row while Jeremy Latimore comes onto the bench.

Like Moon, Latimore has been playing for the Vulcans since the Canberra match.

"We're naturally relieved Sam isn't going to be out for as long as we thought he might be. Not having him is obviously a setback because he really has been outstanding for us all season," said Cleary.

"However, we have three props in Russell, Jesse and Jeremy who have had plenty of game time for us.

"Rusty was great against the Rabbitohs and Jesse has been solid for us every match so far. It's another chance for Lats (Latimore), who has been playing really well for the Vulcans lately."

Apart from Royal coming in for Rapira, the starting line-up is unchanged from the one used against the Rabbitohs.

Winger Manu Vatuvei is still out with the leg injury that sidelined him early in the second half of the victory over the Cowboys.

Leading the side again will be second rower Simon Mannering. Playing only his third match of the season after hamstring trouble, Mannering was used for the full 80 minutes against the Rabbitohs as the Warriors were reduced to a two-man interchange bench after losing Rapira and Maloney.

In match in which the Warriors were required to make 360 tackles, Mannering made 37 himself, second only to Micheal Luck's 49.

The captain also carried the ball 11 times, threw a long pass for Jerome Ropati's first try and made no errors.

For the second week running, Ropati was named the players' player of the day after an effort highlighted by two tries - lifting his career tally to 45 - an exceptional 26 carries and two line breaks.

- NZPA