Harris-Tavita to make debut

Chanel Harris-Tavita will start for the Warriors this weekend. Photo: Getty Images
Chanel Harris-Tavita will start for the Warriors this weekend. Photo: Getty Images
Young Warriors half Adam Keighran will likely spend time in reserve grade this weekend, with Chanel Harris-Tavita set to make his NRL debut.

After jostling with Keighran for the starting spot to begin the season, Harris-Tavita will get his chance this weekend against the Gold Coast Titans as the Warriors look to move on from their recent woes.

Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said Harris-Tavita would be coming into the squad

"It's part of the business. Everyone knows how this game works. The positive side is we give someone else an opportunity," Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"Now that Chanel gets a shot with us, we're looking forward to see how he goes in the top side."

Keighran was named on an extended bench for Friday's clash against the Titans, but is expected to be omitted from the squad before the match.

The side started the season with a dominant win over the Canterbury Bulldogs, but have been thoroughly outplayed in their past two outings with losses to the Wests Tigers and Manly Sea Eagles. As a result, Warriors coach Stephen Kearney hinted that things would change in his line up.

"On the back of a couple of disappointing performances there will be some adjustments to the side," he said.

"When you find yourself in a bit of a hole, which is where we are at the minute, you've got to work hard to get yourself out of it."

In the last fortnight, the Warriors have struggled to match it with their opponents and have leaked points. Against Manly and Wests, the team conceded 80 points - including 14 tries - missed a combined 78 tackles and committed 23 errors. For anyone who hadn't seen the games, the statistics alone don't paint a pretty picture.

Kearney chose not to make changes after an ugly 34-6 loss to the Tigers in round two, but after an equally unappealing result in Manly, the Warriors coach has sought a change in personnel to address some of the concerns in the team's performance.

"We understand with the last two performances … there's a certain expectation that we have in the footy team," Kearney said.

"At the end of the day, if there's going to be some adjustments, I'm doing what I think is going to be best for the footy team to get a performance on Friday night.

"For everyone, that's the business we're in - performance. It's no different every week."

Issac Luke and Nathaniel Roache will both be unavailable for the Titans clash, opening a spot in the match day squad for former Titan Karl Lawton, who will share hooking duties with Jazz Tevaga.

Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, David Fusitu'a, Peta Hiku, Solomone Kata, Ken Maumalo, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Blake Green, Agnatius Paasi, Karl Lawton, Leeson Ah Mau, Isaiah Papali'i, Tohu Harris, Adam Blair. Interchange: Jazz Tevaga, Bunty Afoa, Lachlan Burr, Ligi Sao, Gerard Beale, Leivaha Pulu, Adam Keighran, Blake Ayshford (four to be omitted).

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