NRL: Issac Luke looks to prove he can consistently play 80 minutes

Issac Luke. NRL Premiership. Vodafone Warriors v Gold Coast Titans. Photo / Photosport.co.nz

Veteran Warriors hooker Issac Luke hopes to prove he can consistently play 80 minutes and save the side from carrying a back-up dummy-half on the interchange bench.

The 30-year-old was pleased he was left on to play the entirety of last week's win over the Gold Coast following young second-rower Isaiah Papali'i's knee injury, after Luke was replaced by Sam Cook with 12 minutes remaining in the round one victory over South Sydney.

Cook has been relegated to reserve grade this week with Jazz Tevaga providing cover for hooker and the back-row for tomorrow's match against the Raiders in Canberra, but Luke hopes he can convince coach Stephen Kearney to utilise that bench spot in other ways.

"I want to get back to playing 80 minutes but I've got to earn that," said Luke.

"That's something we've been working on. I'm getting old but I want to be able to push that out and for the side just to have the one option.

"But I'll do what's best for the team and if we have to carry (a back-up No9) to give me a break then I'm cool with that.

"I've got to think about the team first and if I'm falling behind I'll get my rest and then come back on if I can.

"The type of game that I play is for fast people so I've got to try and stay fit and stay fast."

After overcoming their Perth hoodoo the Warriors will hope to buck the trend in another of the NRL's most difficult away assignments, with the trip to Canberra requiring two flights, while they have won just three games in 15 visits to GIO Stadium.

The Raiders will be hell-bent on claiming their first win of the season and looking to improve their goal-line defence after leaking five tries in consecutive 30-28 defeats to the Titans and Knights.

Canberra boast one of the biggest forward rotations in the NRL featuring the likes of Shannon Boyd, Iosia Soliola, Josh Papali'i and Junior Paulo, but Kearney says the Warriors know the size of the task awaiting them as they hunt for a third-straight victory.

"We know we're coming up against a tough side," Kearney said.

"Canberra are a big and physical side that's been beaten in the last couple of minutes by a couple of teams so they'll be very desperate."

The Warriors forwards are growing in confidence after containing the highly-rated Rabbitohs pack and absorbing plenty of pressure against a committed Titans side.

The Warriors big men didn't have it all their own way in either match, but Luke is pleased their strong middle defence has forced their opposition to go searching for try-scoring chances elsewhere.

Three of Souths four tries were all scored out wide before Cody Walker got his second with a jinking run near the line in the final minutes, while the Titans had to resort to a kick for wing Anthony Don to claim their lone four-pointer at the death last week.

"We had a big pack two weeks ago in South Sydney and we've got a new challenge now and they'll be eager to get the win at home," Luke said.

"It's going to be a good challenge, we know that, but the boys are looking forward to it. We're preparing really well for it."