NRL: Origin won't be distraction in bid to contain Souths

Brent Tate. Photo / Dean Purcell

A Warriors side untroubled by State of Origin selection will take on the Rabbitohs at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.

With Steve Price injured, Brent Tate was the only likely candidate for next Wednesday's opening match of the showpiece Australian representative series.

But Queensland passed on the 15-game centre - opting instead for Willie Tonga and Greg Inglis - leaving Tate free to play for the Warriors on Sunday.

"I'm obviously disappointed that I am not there," Tate said. "I would dearly have loved to have been there. But I guess too I was pretty realistic about where I was at. They always stay pretty loyal to the guys that have done the job in the past, the incumbent guys. So I knew it was going to be a bit of a battle to make it.

"I guess the way for me to keep my name up there is to play well for the Warriors."

With key wing Manu Vatuvei again on the sidelines with a shin injury of yet-to be-determined severity, the presence of the experienced Tate will be vital to the Warriors' chances of halting a Souths juggernaut that humiliated the Tigers 50-10 on Sunday.

The Rabbitohs are also largely unaffected by Origin stand-downs, with giant second rower Dave Taylor their sole representative. Taylor has been named on the Queensland bench.

After pulling out late last week, captain Simon Mannering is set to make a belated comeback from his hamstring troubles.

"Having Simon back as captain and in his back row role is a major boost for the side," coach Ivan Cleary said. "There's no doubt he brings so much to our side." Lewis Brown makes way for Mannering's return, dropping to the five-man bench.

Fullback Lance Hohaia will become the fifth player to join the Warriors' 150-game club. The 27-year-old will add his name to a list including Stacey Jones (261), Logan Swann (195), Awen Guttenbeil (170) and Wairangi Koopu (159).

Young winger Bill Tupou returns for Vatuvei. Medical staff are still assessing the nature of Vatuvei's injury after an x-ray and a CT scan ruled out a fracture in his left leg.

* Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm Sunday

Warriors
Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Bill Tupou, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Upu Poching, Simon Mannering (capt), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck.

Interchange: Lewis Brown, Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal (one to be omitted).

Rabbitohs
Rhys Wesser, Nathan Merritt, Colin Best, Beau Champion, Fetuli Talanoa, John Sutton, Chris Sandow, Scott Geddes, Issac Luke, Luke Stuart (capt), Sam Burgess, Eddy Pettybourne, Ben Lowe.

Interchange: Garret Crossman, Shannan McPherson, Michael Crocker, Jason Clark, Luke Capewell (one to be omitted).