NRL: Spotlight falls back on Fisiiahi

Glen Fisiiahi. Photo / Getty Images

Youngster Glen Fisiiahi will run out for the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday backed by words of encouragement from the player he replaced for the National Rugby League clash with Cronulla.

Fisiiahi's return to the side comes at the expense of New Zealand test fullback Lance Hohaia, whose axing is one of a raft of changes coach Ivan Cleary has made in the wake of the club's 0-3 start to the season.

But Hohaia, the longest serving player in the Warriors' present squad with 166 matches since 2002, bore no grudges.

Fisiihai, 20, said Hohaia had spoken to him during the week and had told him "to play hard and do my best" in Taupo.

The pair were part of the Warriors' back three when Fisiiahi made his NRL debut this month on the wing.

However, the pair's problems under the high ball were an unfortunate feature of the Warriors' round-one defeat to the Parramatta at Auckland's Eden Park.

Fisiiahi also got injured and missed the loss the following week to the Wests Tigers, but returned to action for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup last weekend.

Fullback is his preferred position.

He starred in that role for the Juniors Warriors in their under-20 National Youth Competition title-winning campaign last year, when his speed and eye for the tryline netted him 20 tries in 26 games.

"That's where I'm most comfortable," he said.

"I'm just hoping to play around the big boys this weekend and get an offload from them, and we'll see what's what after that."

Fisiiahi agreed he had a point to prove after his performance against the Eels, when he dropped a bomb to gift marker Luke Burt a try and then saw Burt grab another after he rushed in on defence.

He had been working on being secure under the high ball, knowing he would be targeted by opposition kickers.

"I'm just thankful for the opportunity and Ivan keeping faith with me," he said.

"I just have to perform now."

Fisiiahi will form a new back three with wingers Krisnan Inu and Bill Tupou.

While former Eel Inu has 80 NRL matches and as well as four tests for the Kiwis under his belt, Tupou is still a relative novice, having made his first-grade debut last year.

Tupou's 2010 was split between the Junior Warriors and the senior side.

He made 12 NRL appearances during which he scored four tries, including a second-half hat-trick against Cronulla in the corresponding away fixture in August.

"I spent a lot of the year playing with Bill and communication-wise we shouldn't have a problem," Fisiiahi said.

"We have trust in each other to be in the right place at the right time and it just helps my game. It takes away some of the pressure."

Inu, meanwhile, would provide experience as well as direction through his on-field talk.

Fisiiahi's recall coincided with the announcement that he had committed to a four-year contract, which will keep him at the Warriors until the end of 2015.

While the contract might give him some security in terms of his career, he said that wasn't why he signed.

"It doesn't mean I can relax," he said.

"It's not really why I want to be here. It's being a regular NRL starter. That's one of my goals."

- NZPA

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