NRL: Vatuvei in doubt for scrap at Suncorp

Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors' gamebreaker Manu Vatuvei is a doubtful starter for their crucial NRL match against Brisbane tonight as he battles a hamstring strain.

Despite being named in the team, Vatuvei played only a limited role at training at their Burleigh Heads base on the Gold Coast yesterday after suffering the injury in the 28-12 loss to the Titans last Saturday.

Team management rated the Kiwis winger a doubtful starter for the game at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, pending a final fitness test today.

Patrick Ah Van, replaced at centre by Jerome Ropati in the starting side this week, would appear the likely backup if Vatuvei were ruled out.

Senior Warriors were crossing their fingers Vatuvei would pull through, as he was seen as a key figure in reviving their stuttering playoff bid.

"Manu is an inspirational player and when he comes up with a big play it lifts everyone," halfback Stacey Jones told Rugby League Week.

"When we made inroads against the Titans it was Manu who got it going. But we need to get him more involved at the right times."

The cloud over Vatuvei offset any joy at the absence of Broncos fullback Karmichael Hunt who was ruled out with an ankle injury.

The Queensland and Kangaroos star was one of the Broncos' best in their 21-14 defeat at Parramatta on Sunday, but withdrew at yesterday's training session.

Promising youngster Josh Hoffman was named to replace Hunt at fullback, while they welcome back some heavy artillery in the form of Kangaroos Israel Folau (sternum) and Justin Hodges (knee), while former Kiwis forward Tonie Carroll was enticed out of retirement to help shore up their leaky defence.

Tonight's match holds plenty of intrigue between two sides whose playoff aspirations suffered significant hits in recent weeks.

While the Warriors kept Wests Tigers and title contenders Newcastle Knights scoreless in crucial home victories, their away record has been decidedly average.

Since their upset 26-24 victory over Manly in round two in March, their best result from six matches on the road was a 14-14 draw against Melbourne Storm. They conceded 28 points and scored 11 on average in their past three away defeats to Canberra, Cronulla and Gold Coast.

Coach Ivan Cleary largely kept faith with his side this week as they maintained a low profile on the Gold Coast before boarding the bus to Brisbane late yesterday.

They are 11th on the ladder and need to win at least seven of their last 10 to make the top-eight playoffs.

Five-eighth Lance Hohaia was passed fit despite suffering heavy bruising to his shin, with x-rays clearing him of any serious injury.

Ropati's recall after two matches on the sidelines was the only change.

Cleary said he would instruct his side to be positive and try to keep the ball alive and keep the Broncos on the run.

Handling errors, poor attack options and two length of the field intercepts sank them last weekend.

Captain Steve Price said the formula was simple.

"We need to build some pressure so when the opposition gets tired and space opens up, guys like Lance, Wade McKinnon, Kevin Locke and Manu can come into their own."

The Broncos beat the Warriors 26-10 in Auckland in round three, and won their last clash at Suncorp 36-12 in 2006.

But the Broncos are on a rare four-match mid-Origin losing streak which saw them drop out of the top eight for the first time.

Tonight will be the strongest lineup the Broncos have fielded in the past month, with Folau and Hodges two key returnees.

- NZPA