NRL: McClennan names strong squad for pre-season clash

Feleti Mateo. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Most of the Warriors' 2011 grand final players plus new signing Nathan Friend will line up for the club's first 2012 NRL pre-season trial against the Gold Coast Titans at North Harbour Stadium on Saturday.

In naming a 25-man squad for his first match as head coach, Brian McClennan today confirmed 11 of the 17 players used in the grand final against Manly will take the field, while hooker Friend will make his Warriors debut against his former club.

Also included are six members of the Junior Warriors' 2011 NYC premiership-winning side - captain Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Carlos Tuimavave, Sam Lousi, Sio Siua Taukeiaho and Sebastine Ikahihifo. Another nine players in the squad for this weekend are Junior Warriors' graduates.

Not being used against the Titans are fullback Kevin Locke, winger Manu Vatuvei, loose forward Micheal Luck, centre Jerome Ropati and prop Russell Packer. Vatuvei is on the Gold Coast with the NRL All Stars for their annual encounter with the Indigenous All Stars this Saturday night.

"The other boys aren't ready for this weekend," McClennan said.

"Micheal [Luck] is coming along well after his shoulder surgery but won't be back for a few weeks yet.

"Jerome isn't ready to play just yet but hopefully he'll play a trial before the season starts, while Kevin and Russell should be in contention for next weekend's trial against South Sydney [at Coffs Harbour]."

McClennan said he planned to give all 25 players named some time on the field against the Titans but was still to settle on his starting line-up.

While 2011 grand finalists Locke, Vatuvei, Luck and Packer won't play this weekend, the other 11 on the club's 2012 roster will all appear - winger Bill Tupou, centre Krisnan Inu, halves James Maloney and Shaun Johnson, front rowers Jacob Lillyman, Sam Rapira and Ben Matulino plus back rowers Simon Mannering, Feleti Mateo, Elijah Taylor and Lewis Brown.

Another feature of the selection is the inclusion of two sets of brothers - Sam and Steve Rapira plus Sione and Sam Lousi.

Gold Coast coach John Cartwright has included new signings Luke Douglas, Beau Champion and Beau Falloon in a 22-man squad for Saturday's trial. The Titans are due to arrive in Auckland on Thursday.

In Saturday's early trial, the champion John Ackland-coached Junior Warriors will face Auckland club side Otahuhu.

As well as this trial and the February 11 encounter with the Rabbitohs, the Warriors have a final trial against Queensland Cup side Sunshine Coast at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on February 18. They then have a weekend off before opening their 2012 NRL campaign with their 'Get Even at Eden' grand final rematch against Manly at Eden Park on Sunday, March 4.

The squads for the NRL trial are:

Warriors: Lewis Brown, Glen Fisiiahi, Nathan Friend, Pita Godinet, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Krisnan Inu, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Sam Lousi, Sione Lousi, James Maloney, Simon Mannering (c), Alehana Mara, Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Ivan Penehe, Sam Rapira, Steve Rapira, Ukuma Ta'ai, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Elijah Taylor, Carlos Tuimavave, Bill Tupou.

Gold Coast: Javarn White; Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Dominique Peyroux, Joe Vickery; Jordan Rankin, Beau Henry; Michael Henderson, Kayne Lawton, Matthew White; Ben Ridge, Bodene Thompson; Luke O'Dwyer. Interchange: Brenton Lawrence, Luke Douglas, Luke Page, Louis Fanene, Cody Nelson, Beau Falloon, Beau Champion, David Mead, Jamie Dowling.