Warriors turn to Peyroux after Hurrell suspended

Dominique Peyroux of the Warriors is tackled by Gerard Beale of the Sharks during the round nine NRL match between the Sharks and the Warriors May 9. Photo / Getty Images

Dominique Peyroux will shift into the centres in place of the suspended Konrad Hurrell as the Warriors continue to search for an answer in the crucial position.

Hurrell today accepted an early guilty plea for a dangerous contact charge from a high knee that saw Sharks forward Anthony Tupou sustain a badly-broken jaw and will be suspended for three weeks, starting with Saturday's visit to the Eels. The Warriors believed the incident was accidental but decided not to contest the charge - a failed appeal would have resulted in a four-week ban.

The Warriors need some consistency in the centres and have turned to Peyroux, who has plugged the gap previously. He's more accustomed to playing in the second row but will shift out one position to right centre.

"Dom has been doing a job for us on the bench and has worked for an opportunity like this," Warriors assistant coach Andrew Webster said. "We're not going to have Konrad for a few weeks now so this is a big chance for Dom."

Former Warriors and Kiwis coach Brian McClennan says Hurrell's career has hit a crossroad and fears the big centre will look back at his playing days with regret.

"I love Koni, he is so good, and a lot of other people do as well," said McClennan, who helped create the dominant Kiwis era when his team crushed Wayne Bennett's Australia in the 2005 Tri Nations final.

"I believe his potential is so amazing that he can end up being ranked alongside our great Kiwi centres, like James Leuluai and Dean Bell. But unfortunately he has reached a crossroad ... I'm reminded of the quote that there is no greater burden than unfulfilled potential.

"His career really has stalled. Life is not a dress rehearsal - it's the real thing. Will there be regrets? There should be if it keeps going this way."

Hurrell's career has progressed in fits and starts, blighted by weight issues, a sex-tape scandal, on-field errors, injury and now a contrary conduct charge despite previous warnings.

McClennan said Tupou contributed to the severe injury by putting his head in a dangerous place, but Hurrell's knee was about 15 cm higher than it legally should be.
Utility forward Sione Lousi comes onto an extended five-man bench against the Eels.

The rest of the side is unchanged from the line-up which beat the Sharks 20-16 in dramatic fashion last weekend, with the same starting pack named for the ninth consecutive match this season.

It means winger Manu Vatuvei has been named to play, despite picking up a painful sternum injury against Cronulla that forced him from the field. It had been thought he would miss a handful of games and is still a doubt to face Parramatta.

"We're still hoping Manu can come through," Webster said. "He's a lot better today and he certainly knows his body really well. He's working hard with the medical team and will be given every chance."

Fellow winger Jonathan Wright will make his 100th career appearance in what is also the Warriors' 500th NRL games since their first in 1995.

The Warriors climbed into the top eight with their fourth win of the season last week and are two points ahead of the Eels in 15th - just two points covers the 10 teams from seventh (the Roosters) to last (Manly).

Warriors side to play the Eels at Pirtek Stadium, Sydney, on Saturday (5pm): Tuimoala Lolohea, Jonathan Wright, Dominique Peyroux, Solomone Kata, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Jacob Lillyman, Thomas Leuluai, Ben Matulino, Bodene Thompson, Ryan Hoffman, Simon Mannering (c). Interchange (one to be omitted): Nathan Friend, Sione Lousi, Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Raymond Faitala-Mariner.