NRL: Warriors face season opener without captain

Simon Mannering. Photo / Getty Images

It may be a new season but the Warriors will be in a familiar position on Sunday in Robina, heading out for an important match without their first choice captain.

The club had adopted a "he'll be right" stance to the hamstring tear Simon Mannering suffered in sprint training in mid-January, insisting the newly appointed skipper would be fit for the season-opener against the Titans on the Gold Coast.

Whether that was simply misplaced optimism, or an attempt to deflect scrutiny from the fact that the club would begin its quest for a new beginning without the man appointed to lead the way, matters little.

The harsh reality is that Mannering has not recovered from an injury suffered eight weeks ago. The Warriors will head into the heat of battle in what are expected to be blazing Queensland conditions without a player whose work-rate they could sorely use.

"Simon's close to being right but there's no point in playing him at this stage of the season until we're all satisfied he's ready to go," coach Ivan Cleary said.

"Hopefully he'll be able to play next week but we won't rush things."

With Mannering out, Micheal Luck will lead the side, as he did frequently standing in for Steve Price last year and in the club's last two trials this season.

While an undefeated trials campaign is reason for optimism heading into the season-proper, that will be tempered by the fact the Warriors head into a match against a team that suffered just one home loss last season also without senior prop Steve Price and first choice hooker Ian Henderson.

Those losses will at least be balanced by the fact that Cleary has named what he sees as his strongest possible backline.

Last year's major under-achiever Wade McKinnon has been relegated to a five-man bench, replaced by Kiwis fullback Lance Hohaia.

Cleary signalled his intentions during the pre-season by giving Hohaia the lion's share of time in the one shirt, while McKinnon's case was not helped by an ankle injury suffered while training in Cairns.

That Cleary has followed through and relegated him will certainly have put McKinnon - a standout player until his 2008 knee injury - on notice that better is required this season.

Cleary's naming of former Storm rookie James Maloney to partner Brett Seymour in the halves is also no surprise, with Maloney appearing the favoured five-eighth option throughout the trials.

"There's a lot of competition for that spot, which is a good thing for us, and [Maloney] showed in the trials that he deserves a shot at the job this time," Cleary said.

With Brent Tate fit to take his place at right centre, Maloney's selection has pushed Joel Moon back to the bench. If Cleary opts to carry three forwards on the bench - a likely scenario given the expected rigours of a 1pm local time kick off - then either Moon or McKinnon will miss out altogether.

The absence of a back-up hooker on the bench suggests Hohaia could well spend time at dummy half, with McKinnon to slot into his regular fullback role.

Twenty-year-old back rower Sione Lousi is the big mover in the squad, named to debut off the bench. Lousi probably owes his place to the foot injury that ruled out Jacob Lillyman but his selection is also just reward for some storming displays in the trials.

Price's continued absence due to complications following heel surgery leaves the pack stacked with youthful enthusiasm but light on experience.

Russell Packer starts in the front row alongside senior prop Sam Rapira, while Ben Matulino and Lewis Brown form a youthful back row.

New recruit Jeremy Latimore, who scored the match-tying try in the final trial draw with Manly, has been included on the bench alongside Lousi and Jesse Royal.

Warriors
Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Lewis Brown, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck (captain).

Interchange (from): Wade McKinnon, Jeremy Latimore, Jesse Royal, Sione Lousi, Joel Moon.