New skipper Simon Mannering's wait to lead the New Zealand
Warriors continues after he was ruled out of the club's
National Rugby League (NRL) season opener against Gold Coast
at Robina on Sunday.
Mannering, 23, took over the captaincy in the off-season from
prop Steve Price but missed all three of the Warriors' trial
matches because of a hamstring injury.
Coach Ivan Cleary said today that the decision was made not
to risk the second rower while he was making his recovery.
"Simon's close to being right but there's no point in playing
him at this stage of the season until we're all satisfied
he's ready to go," he said. "Hopefully he'll be able to play
next week but we won't rush things."
With Mannering out, lock Micheal Luck, in his 99th match for
the Warriors, will deputise as skipper.
Mannering's absence means 20-year-old Sione Lousi, a former
Junior Warrior who played in all three trials against the
Sydney Roosters, North Queensland and Manly, is in line to
make his NRL debut from the bench.
"He did a terrific job in every match and he has also worked
really hard throughout the off-season," Cleary said.
Three other players will make their first appearances for the
Warriors - the halfback and five-eighth pairing of Brett
Seymour and James Maloney, and prop James Maloney, who is
among the reserves.
Cleary said there was a lot of competition for the No 6
jersey, but Maloney, formerly with Manly, had shown in the
pre-season matches that he deserved the first shot at the
job.
At fullback, Lance Hohaia has been chosen to start ahead of
regular custodian Wade McKinnon, who is on the interchange
bench.
Centre Brent Tate will play his first NRL match since
suffering a serious ankle injury against Brisbane in round
three last year.
The other centre is Jerome Ropati, while Joel Moon, an option
for both the five-eighth and centre spots, is named on the
bench.
Apart from Mannering, Price and fellow forward Jacob Lillyman
were ruled out with heel and foot problems respectively.
New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent
Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett
Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Lewis
Brown, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck (captain). Interchange
(from): Wade McKinnon, Jeremy Latimore, Jesse Royal, Sione
Lousi, Joel Moon.
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