NRL: Warriors name Maloney despite suspension threat

James Maloney will miss two matches if found guilty of a dangerous throw charge. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors have made one enforced change for their National Rugby League third round match against the Brisbane Broncos on Sunday - and hope they won't have to make another when the judiciary convenes tomorrow.

New halfback James Maloney has been named in the starting 13 for the match in Brisbane despite facing a two-match ban if he fails to defend a grade one dangerous throw charge at a hearing in Sydney tomorrow night.

The Warriors opted against entering an early guilty plea that would have seen him miss the trip to Brisbane, but by contesting the charge he risks being ruled out of the next home match against Manly if found guilty.

Second rower Lewis Brown, who was also charged in relation to the tackle on Cronulla Sharks forward Anthony Tupou early in the Warriors 30-16 win in Auckland last Saturday, entered an early guilty plea and will not travel.

He has been replaced in the starting line-up by Ben Matulino, who is promoted from the interchange bench.

Sione Lousi, who made his first-grade debut in the opening round loss to the Gold Coast Titans, returns to the bench after recovering from a leg infection.

The Warriors are anxious to have Maloney available after his assured performance at halfback as a replacement for Brett Seymour, who is sidelined with a broken thumb.

If Maloney is ruled out, the Warriors will be denied their first choice halves combination as early as round three given Brett Seymour is already unavailable with a broken thumb sustained against the Gold Coast Titans.

However, coach Ivan Cleary does have several options to fill the playmaker role alongside five-eighth Joel Moon.

Utility Lance Hohaia could switch from fullback while hooker Aaron Heremia also has a background at halfback. The other alternatives are to promote Shaun Johnson or Isaac John from the under-20 side.

Maloney, an off-season acquisition from the Melbourne Storm, has been cited by the judiciary after both his matches for his new club.

He was charged with making dangerous contract with the kicker when clattering into Gold Coast playmaker Scott Prince but was able to play Cronulla after lodging an early guilty plea.

Brisbane also have injury concerns with industrious second rower Corey Parker out for at least a month after straining knee ligaments during the 14-22 loss to Canberra last night.

Cleary described his team's performance against Cronulla as encouraging but the game still highlighted issues facing every side in the formative stages of the competition.

"The big thing in the game today is the role momentum is having," he said.

"It's happening across the competition. You can get away to a good start, as we did against Gold Coast and Cronulla, but it just takes one or two things and there's a momentum swing.

"Against the Sharks we made a few errors, found ourselves on the end of a few penalties and suddenly the momentum had changed."

The Warriors will again look to Manu Vatuvei as a catalyst for establishing momentum given the wing leads the NRL tryscoring stats with five, including a treble against the Sharks.

Wade McKinnon reaches his 50th game for the club via the interchange bench as Lance Hohaia is again preferred at fullback.

- NZPA