League: Warriors complete pre-season unbeaten

Veteran centre Brent Tate came through his first match in 11 months unscathed as the New Zealand Warriors completed the National Rugby League trials programme with a 16-16 draw against Manly in Auckland today.

A late addition to the squad, Tate played the first 22 minutes of the game and returned for the last 23 minutes in his comeback from his second knee reconstruction in three years.

"It was great to be back after so long out of the game," he said, after playing in front of North Harbour Stadium's second successive crowd of 17,000-plus for a Warriors trial.

"The knee came through the game without any trouble all."

The Warriors emerged from their trials programme unbeaten ahead of their season-opening match against the Gold Coast Titans in Robina on March 14.

Also back on the field after missing last week's trial win against North Queensland was fullback Wade McKinnon, who replaced the starting fullback Lance Hohaia at halftime.

Winger Kevin Locke was replaced just before the break after a knock to his back but there were no concerns about his condition after the game.

Coach Ivan Cleary again found plenty to be pleased about.

"We have lots of areas we can improve in but we again defended very well in the second half, we got through with no new injury concerns and we have a lot of players who are putting their hand up and are playing good football at this stage," he said.

While there was constant activity on the interchange bench the intensity on the field belied the fact this was a trial.

For much of the second half the Warriors had to defend their line as Manly, after leading 16-10 at halftime, kept rolling at them from close range.

Every time, though, the home side defused whatever the Sea Eagles threw at them.

The work was rewarded in the end when in the 76th minute some slick short passing near Manly's line created space for new signing Jeremy Latimore to score under the crossbar, with Shaun Johnson converting for the draw.