Price, Tate to boost Warriors
It's back to business for the New Zealand Warriors this week following vice-captain Ruben Wiki's 300th NRL appearance.
Match 301 for Wiki is against North Queensland in Auckland on Saturday night when Steve Price and Brent Tate return to the Warriors after helping Queensland to their 2-1 State of Origin series success last week.
They were both absent for the match against Wests Tigers last month when the former Kiwis captain became the first New Zealander and only the 10th player in the competition's history to appear in 300 first-grade games.
After the Warriors enjoyed the bye last weekend, Price and Wiki will resume their partnership in the front row while Tate teams up with 20-year-old Sonny Fai in a new-look centres partnership.
Fai played the entire 80 minutes there against the Tigers, scoring one try himself and making a long break to create Lance Hohaia's second-half try.
With Fai's retention and Tate's return, Jerome Ropati has been named on a five-man bench.
Also included on the bench are prop Sam Rapira, who makes way for Price's return, Evarn Tuimavave, Ben Matulino and standoff Michael Witt.
Apart from Price and Tate slotting into their regular positions, the starting 13 are the same as used against Wests Tigers, with Grant Rovelli at halfback, Nathan Fien at standoff and Simon Mannering in the second row.
Winger Manu Vatuvei was not considered for selection because he has not yet fully recovered from a leg injury.
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.