Loose forward Michael Luck will return to the starting 13 for
the New Zealand Warriors' National Rugby League finals series
match against Gold Coast Titans at Robina on Friday.
The 28-year-old missed the back-to-back wins against Brisbane
and Parramatta after being sidelined due to an ugly cut in
his left thigh suffered against Manly last month.
Coach Ivan Cleary today confirmed that Luck would be back to
take on Gold Coast in the first round of the finals series.
"Everyone knows how tough Lucky is and we're certainly glad
to have him back in the side," Cleary said.
"Being the sort of person he is, he wanted to play last week
but it wasn't possible. His cut has healed really well, he's
been putting in the work and he's ready to go against the
Titans."
Luck's return results in Jacob Lillyman reverting to his
interchange role as a front rower. Also named on the bench is
hooker Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino and Ukuma Ta'ai along with
Jesse Royal and Joel Moon.
"Jake deserves a lot of credit for the job he did filling
Lucky's role against the Broncos and the Eels. He was
terrific in those two games," Cleary said.
The Warriors qualified for the post-season as the
fifth-ranked side after a 14 win-10 loss record in the
regular season, the club's best output since 2003.
The Warriors leave for Queensland tomorrow for the first
qualifying final against a Gold Coast side who have beaten
them twice this season, 24-18 in the opening round at Skilled
Park in March and 28-20 in Auckland on August 1.
"We hung in with them both times but were a bit off both
times in some areas of our game," Cleary said.
"You can't afford to be down in any part of your game at any
time let alone in the finals, especially not against a side
like the Titans who make it so difficult for you.
"We've shown a lot of improvement in the second half of the
season, as we needed to, but it's a whole lot different now.
We're up against a side which is well served at hooker, in
the halves and at fullback. They know how to control tight
games and we'll have to work really hard to stay with them."
Wing Manu Vatuvei enters the match needing one try to claim
the Warriors' all-time tryscoring record outright.
His 77th career try last weekend drew him level with Stacey
Jones' mark and saw him equal Sean Hoppe's regular season
club record of 19.
New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent
Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett
Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon
Mannering (captain), Lewis Brown, Micheal Luck.
Interchange: Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jacob
Lillyman, Jesse Royal, Joel Moon (two to be omitted).
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