NRL: To the power of three

Ukuma Ta'ai. Photo / Brett Phibbs

As the Warriors embark on the second half of an increasingly tough season, they will be looking to three young men to keep their campaign on track in the short term.

Ukuma Ta'ai, Russell Packer and Ben Matulino are talented players but have seldom been lauded in the same fashion as Manu Vatuvei, Brett Seymour and Sam Rapira this season.

That will change if they do the business over a vital period for the Warriors over the next three weeks or so.

With Rapira, especially, out for another month or so, the three young forwards will be at the forefront of the Warriors' efforts as they attempt to battle through the thorny part of a fixtures calendar which has thrown up some tough teams to coincide with the Warriors' injury worries.

Today's opponents Newcastle will be troublesome. They are 12th on the ladder; one place and two points below the Warriors on the table.

A win is crucial for the Warriors with six tough matches after next week's bye. Five top nine sides are on the agenda (Roosters, Eels, Panthers, Rabbitohs and Titans) as well as the Storm.

The young forwards have already achieved something much of the rest of the side has not - they have stayed injury free. Barring minor niggles and a one-game rest for Packer (in round six) the trio have been a fixture since round five when Ta'ai established his spot against the Bulldogs.

There's nothing flashy about them but they've completed a stack of solid work while maintaining discipline.

Each plays 47-48 minutes a game on average while missing fewer than three tackles and giving away almost no penalties. Last week, in the narrow loss to St George, all made over 100 metres with the ball.

"While it is largely a situation we've had forced upon us those players have all stood up. They're young and maturing but we've really needed them," says coach Ivan Cleary.

The crucial thing now is that they stay out there. That is tricky to manage when minor knocks fail to heal completely and compound into major problems later in the season.

An inexperienced pack is regularly taking to the field with Steve Price, Sam Rapira and Jacob Lillyman out for the near future and Micheal Luck and captain Simon Mannering regularly missing in the near past.

At 23, hard-running second rower Ta'ai is the oldest but least experienced of the trio with just 18 games. He made the transition to league's Mt Albert club in 2008 after playing club rugby as a loose forward for Auckland's University club.

He feels it's a long way from the computer course his mum wanted him to do when he arrived from Tonga in 2007.

"Sometimes I feel like giving up but then I think: this is my life. If you want to be famous you've got to play hard. I never get scared or nervous, I'm always happy to play."

That is evident to Cleary.

"Across the Tasman at the start of the season they had no idea who Ukuma was, even though he'd played 10 games. I'd imagine teams have clocked up some dedicated time watching him on video now."

Russell Packer credits his demotion to the Auckland Vulcans in round six with re-igniting his season, culminating in a NRL-best 47 tackles last week against the Dragons. The 20-year-old was voted the players' player of the day as a result.

"I didn't start the season the way I wanted and that game in reserve grade reminded me my place was not safe.

"However, age doesn't play a part in how I think. It's how you play that matters; you can't be intimidated."

At 21, Ben Matulino has had the fastest rise up the ranks.

He even has three tests for the Kiwis to add to 45 first grade games. He has played every game so far this season, generally making a solid contribution off the interchange bench.

Matulino says one frustration for him - and something that could help the fatigued Warriors at present - is that he has failed to prove himself over 80 minutes.

"Ever since I've been at the Warriors, I've never pulled out a full game, even at under-20 level. I think I clocked up 76 minutes one day.

"The coaches eventually want me to be capable of a full game but I need to push through the pain barrier more. That is where the team's injuries have really tested our depth."

Matulino is addressing the issue by going to Steve Price for endurance tips.

"Pricey says if I get tired I should just think, 'what do I have to do next?' and organise myself to forget about the fatigue. That has helped a fair bit."