With front-line wing contenders Ngani Laumape (ACL), David Fusitu'a (shoulder, groin), and Glen Fisiiahi (knee) all battling injuries, Maumalo has stepped up in place of the more experienced Jonathan Wright to hold his spot for today's away game against the Gold Coast Titans.
The towering 20-year-old is quickly building a reputation as a powerful metre-eater and reliable ball carrier, but that wasn't always the case, with handling errors regularly blighting his performances in the Holden Cup.
"I didn't think I was going to debut this year from how I was playing last year with handling errors," Maumalo explained.
He finished 2014 contributing a try in the Warriors under 20s grand final win over the young Broncos but was not expected to come into first grade calculations until coach Andrew McFadden recognised his work ethic and determination to improve. After featuring in the NRL Auckland Nines, Maumalo starred with two tries in the pre-season trial against Penrith, and was rewarded with round one selection against the Newcastle Knights.
However, a hamstring strain at the final team run the day before the game robbed him of that opportunity and it took until round 10 to make his first start against the Parramatta Eels, before playing in the last two losses to the Rabbitohs and Roosters.
McFadden is excited about Maumalo's potential and impressed with the manner in which he handled his NRL introduction.
"We've played a couple of tough teams and for a young guy coming up against the Rabbitohs and then Roosters, that's no easy feat, and he's gone straight into them head on."
The Titans are facing some possible disruption, with captain Nate Myles potentially missing tonight's match due to a foot injury from State of Origin II. If he is ruled out, Gold Coast second-rower Ryan James is tipped to skipper the side for another week.
Meanwhile, former Kiwis international Kevin Locke has quit UK Super League club Salford amid an ongoing pay dispute. The Manchester Evening News reports that Locke's Leeds based solicitor, Richard Cramer, confirmed the 26-year-old's departure and said his client was seeking unpaid wages from the Red Devils.
- By David Skipwith of the new Zealand Herald
