NRL: Tempers could fly against Sea Eagles

Prop Russell Packer. Picture / Greg Bowker

The sparks - and quite possibly a fair a bit else - will fly when the Warriors take on Manly tonight.

The Warriors certainly haven't forgotten Manly co-captain Jason King's hit on 200-gamer Micheal Luck in the pre-season "friendly" between the clubs.

"Not really man," was recalled prop Russell Packer's response when asked if revenge was on the agenda for a tackle that saw King cited but not suspended.

"That was a shitty old pre-season game," Packer said. "But it was a fiery game so I am pretty sure there is going to be a lot of the same [tonight]. No one is going to go out there to try to go soft."

Hooker Aaron Heremaia expects tempers to flare, but isn't planning on getting between the big boys.

"There was a bit of biff [in the pre-season game]," Heremaia said.

"King put a bit of a shot on Lucky. I don't think the boys will go out there to square it up but I can see it being a fiery encounter. No doubt I'll be third man in or something. I won't be the front man, that's for sure."

Packer's recall to a bench that also contains Ukuma Ta'ai, Sione Lousi and Jeremy Latimore leaves little doubt about how the Warriors are approaching the trip to face a Manly side that has ridden a strong forward effort to a 3-2 start. Fire will be met with fire.

"Playing Manly, especially at Brookvale, you've got to be physical," coach Ivan Cleary said.

Packer scored two tries in a storming display for the Vulcans last week, earning an instant recall to the NRL side. His axing for the round five victory over the Sharks looks a clear case of Cleary giving him a kick up the backside, but neither Packer nor Cleary would comment on that line of questioning.

"I dunno man, you'll have to ask Ivan," was Packer's response.

"I don't want to discuss that really," Cleary said.

Packer has received similar treatment before. Last season he was dropped for the round six defeat by Penrith but returned to the side the following week and held his place for the remainder of the season.

"I'm just happy to be back in the team," Packer said.

"I had a bit of an average game against the Sharks so I probably deserved to have a week with the Vulcans.

"Obviously you want to be playing first grade. I didn't sign here to be playing premier league. Of course I want to be playing first grade. But if I am not playing well enough then I can't really complain about it can I?"

His own early season form had mirrored that of the team, he said.

"Mate, the whole team was below where we wanted to be. We lost three games in a row. It's pretty hard to get yourself into good form when your team's probably not going as well as it should be. It was a challenging three weeks."

Manly and the Warriors have developed a nice little rivalry over the years - perhaps second to only Melbourne from a Warriors perspective.

Packer described the Sea Eagles as a "benchmark team".

"A large part of that is because of their forwards, so it is good to challenge yourself against them," he said. "We've got a pretty young pack these days. The boys played good last weekend so I am going to try to come in and play my hardest, just try to contribute. If our forwards can stand up and stop theirs it is going to go a long way to us winning the game."

Lance Hohaia returns to fullback in place of the injured Glen Fisiiahi for the Warriors, while Manly have recalled Anthony Watmough and Terrence Seuseu. Brett Stewart was a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury, his place going to Michael Oldfield.

* Jacob Lillyman is out with a hamstring strain but is expected to be back next week against Melbourne.