NRL: Vatuvei in great form after knee operation

Manu Vatuvei in action during the round-two NRL match between the Warriors and the Cronulla Sharks at Mt Smart Stadium last Saturday. Photo / Getty Images

It was one of the Warriors' great hopes coming into this NRL season that rested Kiwis internationals Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering and Sam Rapira would produce a form surge for their struggling club.

So far, the theory seems to be panning out nicely.

With five of the team's nine tries to his credit heading into tomorrow's match against the Broncos (two of the others were coincidently scored by Mannering and Rapira), Vatuvei's storming start has been the most obvious embodiment of the key trio's improved body condition.

Having gone under the knife during the off season, the blockbusting 24-year-old winger is now free of the bothersome knee pain that undermined his efforts in 2009.

"I feel great," Vatuvei said.

"It [the knee] feels good, way better this year.

"It was kind of playing up with me [last year], it kept playing with my mind but I just had to play through it.

"I'm really happy that I went and did the surgery, it paid off. Hopefully I can carry [my form] on [tomorrow] and back it up."

Vatuvei's value to his side goes well beyond the tries (63 in 96 games) that have taken him to second behind Stacey Jones on the club's all time list. In both games so far he has been the team's leading ground maker.

Coach Ivan Cleary fingered two telling Vatuvei bursts in the space of three tackles from deep within his own half as the turning point in last week's victory over the Sharks.

"They were coming to get us in the second half," Cleary said.

"He had a run and there was a big collision. Then he had another run and won a penalty and we stayed down the other end for the next 15 minutes. They are the types of things he does for you."

Vatuvei said he was simply trying to make up for a mistake.

"I did a shit offload for the first run and after that I got angry and wanted to take another run for the boys and make up for it. Every time I make a mistake I always try to make up for it on my next run or whatever I do next.

"It is part of my role in the team to try to get more involved in the game and take the pressure off the forwards. They always do the hard yards every game so it is always good for me to take the pressure off them."

Given his butter-fingered past, Vatuvei's undisputed status as the Warriors' main man is a remarkable turnaround.

Cleary puts his star strike player's resurrection firmly down to the 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' philosophy.

"He has got an incredibly strong character and that probably goes way back to 2007 when he was basically ridiculed in the league. For a young guy - and he was about 21 - a lot of guys wouldn't have been able to handle what was thrown at him.

"We've always found him pretty valuable.

"He's worked really hard to get where he is and hopefully there is a still a fair way to go. He deserves everything he gets.

"Like I said, everyone is pretty happy he is in our team."

For tomorrow that team includes workhorse Australian Jacob Lillyman, who has taken the place of youngster Sione Lousi after sitting out the opening two rounds.

With halfback James Maloney cleared at the judiciary mid-week, there are no other changes to the team named by Cleary on Tuesday.

A bizarre injury has ruled out Broncos lock Corey Parker.

The key forward was having a head wound attended to during Monday night's defeat in Canberra when team-mate Andrew McCullough collided with him, inflicting a grade three medial ligament strain.

Parker has been named in the Broncos 17 but, with the injury likely to sideline him for four weeks, his place will go to Langi Setu.

Leading the NRL in average metres gained and line-breaks, the Broncos shape as a dangerous attacking proposition.

The Broncos are averaging 1487 metres a match and have notched 16 line-breaks, while the Warriors average 1322 metres and have made 12 line-breaks.

Both sides have a 1-1 record, having won at home but been defeated on the road. Both sides could use a morale-boosting victory. But only one side has The Beast on the wing. The Warriors will be hoping that proves the decisive factor.

FIXTURE
* Warriors v Broncos
* Suncorp Stadium, tomorrow 4.00pm