NRL: Tupou to step into big shoes

The Warriors have replaced blockbusting wing Manu Vatuvei with 19-year-old rookie Bill Tupou. Photo / Getty Images

Bill Tupou has been named to step into the giant shoes of injured Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei for Sunday's home match against Manly.

The 19-year-old Tupou's promotion may be down to a rapidly escalating injury situation that is approaching crisis level, but it is also a reward for a strong trials campaign and two solid seasons as one of the better strike wingers in the junior ranks.

A product of Auckland's Marist club, the powerful 1.83m, 91kg winger has scored 30 tries in 40 NYC games.

He appeared in all three trial games, scoring a try against North Queensland and obviously doing enough to leapfrog 50-game veteran Patrick Ah Van in the pecking order.

Tupou comes in as a straight replacement for Vatuvei, while Lewis Brown returns from a week's suspension to replace injured captain Simon Mannering.

There was encouraging early news on Mannering and Vatuvei's hamstring injuries, with both players scratched for the Manly match but not yet ruled out of the trip to play the Bulldogs the following week.

Mannering has aggravated an injury that sidelined him for eight weeks over the pre-season and into round one but this latest injury is not expected to keep him out for an extended period.

"You always ask yourself 'did he come back a week too early?' but he got through training and got through a game," club doctor John Mayhew said.

"We know coming back from any injury you are at a greater risk in the first few weeks but in sports medicine you've got to get [players] on the field don't you."

It was still too early to make a definitive call on the extent of both players' injuries, Mayhew said.

"They are only 48 hours post injury so it is a bit early to make a definite prognostication.

"Another two or three days and we'll get a handle on that."

Hopes that former captain Steve Price might return to inject some experience into the injury-hit side have been dashed, with the veteran prop now not expected to play until round six at the earliest.

Scans on his lingering heel injury showed inflammation but no new damage, Mayhew said.

"We've got to settle it down this week and next week and get him moving after that. It is unlikely that he'll be available for another couple of games at least."

Top prospect Shaun Johnson is also out of the running for up to six weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain in Sunday's NYC defeat in Brisbane.

First choice halfback Brett Seymour is recovering well from thumb surgery but is also about six weeks away from a return.

"It's still early in the season but we're fairly battered already and we're certainly having our depth tested," coach Ivan Cleary said.

Hooker Ian Henderson has been cleared to play but is kept out of the side by Aaron Heremaia's sparkling form.

Having made a successful return against the Broncos on Sunday, Jacob Lillyman is named to start in the second row alongside Brown.

"We've put together a couple of good performances and the players coming in have done a great job but we're seeing just how testing playing and surviving in this competition is," Cleary said.

Manly's star fullback Brett Stewart is gone for the season, winger David Williams out for two months with a shoulder injury and damaging bench prop George Rose also sidelined for an extended period. Coach Des Hasler has named a six-man bench.

Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm Sunday

WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Bill Tupou
Joel Moon
James Maloney
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
Lewis Brown
Jacob Lillyman
Micheal Luck (c)

MANLY
Ben Farrar
M. Robertson
Jamie Lyon (c)
Steve Matai
Tony Williams
Kieran Foran
Trent Hodkinson
Jason King (c)
Matt Ballin
Josh Perry
A. Watmough
Shane Rodney
Glenn Stewart

Warriors: Wade McKinnon, Jeremy Latimore, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino

Manly: Joe Galuvao, Brent Kite, Matt Cross, Chris Bailey, Terence Seu Seu, Vic Mauro