NRL: Playoffs look unlikely, time to blood players for 2010

Kevin Locke has made great strides. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors' pre-season training normally starts in December and is rounded off by at least three trials before the season kicks off in March.

In reality, pre-season training for 2010 could effectively start in a couple of weeks, given the Warriors' rapidly diminishing chances of making the playoffs, and they could play as many as 10 trial matches.

Most are bona-fide NRL games but, having left themselves the tall order of needing to win seven of their last nine matches to have a chance of making the top eight, thoughts must soon turn to their 2010 campaign.

Once out of the playoffs race - surely they won't produce another Houdini act - coach Ivan Cleary should turn to some of his brightest, young talents.

He needs to know what's coming off the production line. Kevin Locke was held back for some time but scored three tries in his first three games and has proved to be a dangerous runner.

It is telling that Locke and fellow greenhorn Lewis Brown have been the Warriors' best of late.

They are playing with the enthusiasm needed by every player every week and without the failing confidence most of the NRL side have.

The Warriors keep telling us they have some extremely talented youngsters coming through. Let's see them at NRL level.

They will have nothing to lose when the season is gone and most of the players entrusted with the job at the moment aren't delivering.

The most likely candidates include back-rowers Elijah Taylor and Daniel O'Regan, wing/centre Bill Tupou, prop Upu Poching, and halves Isaac John and Shaun Johnson. The club also believe back-rower Ukuma Ta'ai is a much better player than he showed in four games at the start of the season.

It doesn't mean wholesale changes, just one or two at a time to ease them in.

Cleary, though, baulked at the idea of tinkering with the NRL squad.

"The young boys have been excellent and it maybe asks some questions of more established players," Cleary says, "but they still have improvements to make in their own game and this side is showing it is not far off.

"We already have quite a few rookies and this side will form the basis of what we will have in the future. They are still young men and even players like [hooker] Ian Henderson is only into his second full season in the NRL.

"We don't want to throw the baby out with the bath water and make changes for the sake of making changes."

The Junior Warriors have won four and drawn one of their last seven games to be sixth on the table. They were trounced by last year's beaten grand finalists Brisbane on Friday night 50-18.