Michael Burgess runs through six rugby league topics in his "Set of Six".
Blair ready for Christchurch tribute
Kiwis forward Adam Blair hopes to strike the balance between performance and paying respects during their visit to the Garden City this week.
The Warriors need the right result — especially after the heavy defeat to the Tigers last Sunday — but also want to mark the occasion.
"Subconsciously, it's close to everyone's hearts, close to everyone's home and we will go there and pay respects to those kind of things, so that we all have a clear mind in terms of why we are down there and what we are going to do," said Blair. "We will do those things early, before Saturday, so that we are all fresh and ready to go."
The Warriors are braced for a strong impact from Tom 'Turbo' Trbojevic, as the Kangaroos representative returns for the Sea Eagles this week, after missing the first two rounds. The 22-year-old Trbojevic, recognised as one of the best broken field runners in the NRL, has scored 39 tries for Manly in 77 NRL games.
Tom Trbojevic in action for Australia. Photo / Photosport
"He'll make a massive difference to their team," said Warriors halfback Blake Green. "He completely changes things for them. They have a heap of strike in their team [but] he is a class player."
Former Warriors speedster Glen Fisiiahi is back in the 13-man code, signing on to play with his junior club, the Ellerslie Eagles, in the Auckland second division.
Fisiiahi has been affected by several serious injuries in recent years, but club insiders report the 28-year-old has lost none of the electric pace that characterised his best days at Mt Smart, where he scored 15 tries in 25 NRL matches, including a quartet in one game.
The Fisiiahi family have a long association with the Eagles, and Glen's older brother Paul will be first grade assistant coach in 2019.
Roache back on sidelines
After working so hard over the last 18 months to get back on the field, Warriors hooker Nathaniel Roache faces another frustrating stint out of action. A calf strain meant he was a late scratching from the Tigers' match last week, and isn't expected back until around round five.
"It might be earlier but I anticipate a couple of weeks," said coach Stephen Kearney. "He's doing okay, it's obviously a challenging event for him in a lot of ways because he has had so many dramas, but he is fine, he'll bounce back."
Fox final rematch to open season
A rematch of last year's Fox Memorial premiership grand final will open the new local season on Friday, April 5. The game between Glenora Bears and Pt Chevalier Pirates will be played as a curtain-raiser to the Warriors v Titans match at Mount Smart Stadium, and will be live on Sky.
It has become the biggest rivalry in Auckland league in recent years, with the two clubs meeting in the last two Fox Grand Finals, winning one each. The Pirates were 6-0 winners in the 2018 decider.
From our international desk comes the news the Ghana have appointed a new head coach, ahead of the 2019 Middle East Africa Rugby League Championships, to be staged in Nigeria in October. Australian Andy Gilvary, who has coached the Coogee Dolphins in Sydney for the last five years, is optimistic about Ghana's prospects.
"It is amazing to see how far the sport has come in such a short time," said Gilvary. "There is a flourishing university competition, and the start of a domestic league will make selection for the national team extremely competitive."
