Warriors: Ropati, Locke ruled out

Kevin Locke, left, and Jerome Ropati. Photos / Greg Bowker, Getty Images

Centre Jerome Ropati and winger Kevin Locke have been ruled out of the New Zealand Warriors' National Rugby League (NRL) match against Gold Coast in Auckland on Sunday.

Both left the field with injuries during the 28-38 loss away to South Sydney last weekend, with Ropati likely to be out for three weeks with a groin problem and Locke for two weeks with a hamstring complaint.

Locke's unavailability means Bill Tupou comes in for a ninth appearance in his debut NRL season, while second rower Lewis Brown will be the replacement centre, a job he has held already this season.

Apart from Tupou's return, there are two other changes in personnel to the starting 13, with Ukuma Ta'ai coming into the second row for Brown, and Ben Matulino in at prop for Jesse Royal, who joins a five-man interchange bench.

Coach Ivan Cleary, who has had to deal with injuries all year, said it would have been nice to get through another week without any additions to the casualty list, "but that's the way it goes".

"We've lost two more players and have been forced to shuffle our backline," he said today.

"We've had to deal with situations like this all season so there's no point getting too worried about it."

Of more concern for Cleary was the performance against the Rabbitohs after a five-match winning streak.

"We weren't at the level we expect of ourselves," he said.

"Generally we were a bit down but we can't afford to let it slip again this week. Every side presents a challenge in the NRL and Gold Coast will obviously come here with some confidence after beating the Dragons."

The defeat to Souths dropped the Warriors down a spot to sixth on a compressed point table.

They are one three sides on 24 points, with Manly above them and the Titans below on differential.

New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Bill Tupou, Brent Tate, Lewis Brown, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Ben Matulino, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering (captain), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck.

Interchange (from): Ian Henderson, Jesse Royal, Jeremy Latimore, Jacob Lillyman, Joel Moon.

- NZPA