NRL: Warriors hope Matai adds to centre options

Steve Matai. Photo / Getty Images

As the Warriors management looks to secure the signature of Manly centre Steve Matai, fans get a look at Krisnan Inu - another 2011 centre candidate - on the left wing for the Eels this afternoon.

If Matai can be prised from the Sea Eagles, he will be an excellent acquisition and probably more affordable than Brent Tate, the man he is replacing.

The move to strengthen the combination in the No 3 and 4 jerseys also places pressure on the incumbents.

With Tate injured, Joel Moon has slowly established himself with a series of creditable performances on the right. Jerome Ropati is steadying his form on the left.

Ropati has the most to lose. Matai has made the left centre position his own in 101 matches for Manly, including 12 appearances this season. Complicating matters is Inu's preference for the centres; where he played most of his early league.

He balanced his time equally between left and right centre last season but has been pushed to the wing most of this year with the return of Timana Tahu from rugby union.

Adding to the intrigue is the prospect of Moon and Ropati looking to prove their worth. Moon has come into form at the right time, including a players' player of the day award in the win over the Knights before the bye week.

"I'm comfortable at centre and I think Ivan sees my future there, so that's where I'm concentrating for now."

Moon, 22, is contracted until the end of next year but coach Cleary says he can't afford to slacken in the current environment.

"Joel made a couple of errors on the weekend against the Roosters but he was better against the Knights. He's still finding his feet and worrying about his place in the team. He can ask defences a lot of questions and is a strong tackler."

Inu is also worth a close watch as he tries to impress his fans-in-waiting. He is coy about where he wants to play at the Warriors: "I'm not too worried, I'll just be happy to get game time.

"I haven't spoken to the club [directly] about those preferences. I just let my manager do the talking. I'll worry about those duties next year."

The 23-year-old has had plenty of game time in his fourth NRL season, playing 11 of Parramatta's 14 games. He says part of the reason to move this side of the Tasman is to "grow up more".

Although Manly has the bye, there is also plenty of interest in how the club copes trying to re-sign Matai.

Former Kiwis wing-now-commentator Daryl Halligan says they are in a tricky position.

"Matai's been at Manly five years but the salary cap is forcing some issues. They recently lost halfback Trent Hodkinson to the Bulldogs and they've got to get the signature of Kieran Foran too.

"Not many centres have come on the market in the last few years, so if the Warriors can get Matai, that's a good thing, even if up-and-comers are shut out."

Former Kiwis captain Hugh McGahan agrees: "Jerome Ropati hasn't had the best time of late and Matai would be a welcome replacement for Tate. He'd toughen things up, bringing more impact on defence. He'd be intimidating out wide."

Questions have been raised about whether Matai's impact on defence might be too much at times. He has a dubious record in front of the NRL and international judiciaries, with nine appearances in five years, including six for high tackles.

He has served a three week stint on the sidelines this year for a couple of high shots against the Eels. That last appearance prompted former judiciary panelist and Kiwi international Darrell Williams to say Matai needed to change his tackling style.

Halligan says fans have to accept that is the price of aggression: "It's the way Steve plays his football. Sometimes his approach is not going to come off but other times, it can motivate a team."

The consensus among experts is that the arrival of Inu and possibly Matai will place the most pressure on Moon, Ropati and Kevin Locke, presuming Manu Vatuvei is safe on the left wing and Lance Hohaia stays at fullback.

"If Inu is moved to the right wing, where would you put Kevin Locke?" McGahan said. "What a nice headache to have as a coach."

"I would start Inu on the wing," says Halligan. "But he could fit in anywhere back there and you're always going to need more than two decent centres so that's another bonus."