By PETER JESSUP
Warriors coach Mark Graham will delay finalising his side for the crucial game against Wests Tigers until an hour before kickoff at Ericsson Stadium tomorrow night.
Some are carrying niggling injuries - prop Joe Vagana (calf) and skipper John Simon (thumb) among them - but the delay has as much to do with keeping the opposition guessing.
Logan Swann ran freely yesterday and Graham made no secret of his inclusion. The second-row partner, though, could be Monty Betham or Matt Spence, both competing well in recent starts, with Awen Guttenbeil sure to be in the 17 somewhere. Scott Coxon is unavailable with a medial ligament tear.
Likewise, there are some options out back. Cliff Beverley made a solid return last week, though bench starts left him without the worry of the high ball. The choice will expand next week as Joe Galuvao comes back from a repeat hamstring injury, the utility starting with Newtown this weekend. David Myles has a week to go on suspension; Ivan Cleary's return date is still clouded.
Graham's work this week has been focusing the team on performing to their best for the whole 80 minutes. "We're still not playing to our potential, we haven't all season."
He was happy with the first 15 minutes against the Sharks. "But we need to keep our concentration for 40 minutes at a time. We have to learn to put sides away. We're hanging tough on defence now but we're making a lot of that defensive work for ourselves."
While Graham rates Jarrod McCracken as a key player for the Tigers, he feels the Warriors will not be intimidated given their association via the Kiwis. "He likes to stand over people but I don't expect he'll get away with that here."
Stacey Jones will again be targeted, all sides testing "the little bloke" and Jones sure to get extra as the Tigers push his psyche to see how well he is recovered from the trauma of the broken arm.
Halfway into the season, this game takes on the added significance of a possible three-win streak for the Warriors, something they have not experienced for some time. Two points and other kind results could push them well into the playoff positions. The Tigers will be desperate to avoid a fourth consecutive loss.
* At Newtown with "Little Joe" this week are Mark Tookey and Wairangi Koopu; at Brisbane Norths are Henry Perenara, Jonathon Smith and Vae Kololo.
The Warriors cite financial restraints as the reason for cutting the travelling numbers from five to three to each feeder club. Graham remains happy with the returns, despite the constant disruption to training squads and the travelling.
"It enables us to get them some experience at a level above the local comp. It exposes them to the sort of intensity they can expect for 80 minutes in the NRL. Put them back in the local comp and they play like champs."
The two feeder clubs accommodate his wishes as far as possible in selection policy and procedures. "They've all improved. It's working good for us."
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.
Latest from NRL
NRL team start swear jar after f-bomb barrage
Mitchell raised eyebrows with an expletive-laden radio cross.