League: Warriors match features stars

Issac Luke is set to debut for the Warriors against the Gold Coast at Toll Stadium this weekend. Photo / Getty

The Vodafone Warriors' excursion to Whangarei for this weekend's first fully-fledged NRL trial in the winterless North, against the Gold Coast Titans, will be boosted by several big names.

New signing Issac Luke, veteran wing Manu Vatuvei, and second rower Ben Henry headline the Warriors' squad for Saturday's match at Toll Stadium, which will double as Luke's first appearance for the club since being signed from South Sydney last year.

Vatuvei will make his return from off-season shoulder surgery, while Henry, who missed almost all of the 2015 season after a second serious knee injury, is a good chance to return to the fray.

"It was bittersweet for myself; bitter in the sense that it happened a second time, but sweet in the sense that I knew what was expected and what I had to do," Henry said of his return to first grade footy.

"I'm really excited actually. It's been sort of 10 months and I've just been looking forward to getting on the paddock and playing with the boys, playing something that I've trained hard for, and hopefully everything goes alright."

Star playmaker Shaun Johnson will miss the trial, with coach Andrew McFadden confirming he wants to rest his leading players.

New recruit Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is also set to be rested after suffering a calf strain in the latter stages of the Downer NRL Auckland Nines, along with Solomone Kata (ankle) and rookie Henare Wells (hamstring).

While a number of Junior Warriors have been picked for the first grade game, Northland's recent Warriors signee Nathan Newton will be making a trip home, and will line-up in the curtain-raiser to the main event when the Vodafone Warriors NYC team faces the Vodafone Warriors NSW side at 3pm.

Working with Whangarei District Council Venues and Events to facilitate the event, Alex Smits said almost 3000 tickets have been pre-sold, and that organisers were expecting a good walk-up crowd.

Aside from Saturday's main event at Toll Stadium, fans will have multiple opportunities to interact with players, including numerous visits to local schools today and tomorrow.

The Warriors support staff, including Kiwi legends Tony Iro and Duane Mann, will take a coaching session for Northland league coaches at Whangarei Boys' High School tonight while the Titans' players will visit Whangarei Hospital tomorrow.

A training session for Rugby league Northland's elite players will also take place tonight at Whangarei Boys' High School.

Open to the public, both teams will have a captain's run on the ground at Toll tomorrow morning and afternoon, while a civic welcome for the Titans players will be held at Toll Stadium tomorrow night.

The big event for Warriors' fans is an event at Harvey Norman, in Whangarei, from 10am on Saturday.

It will be the city's fourth major rugby league occasion in recent years following the Kiwis' appearance against Toa Samoa in 2014 en route to winning the Four Nations title.

The three match bonanza includes two curtain-raisers, with a Northern Swords selection playing the Warriors Academy at 1pm, and the Vodafone Warriors NYC and NSW sides pre-season trial.

Gates open at 12.45pm and tickets can be sourced from Eventfinda or the Forum North Box Office.

Vodafone Warriors vs Gold Coast Titans

Starting: Tomas Aoake, Ken Maumalo, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Matt Allwood, Manu Vatuvei, Ata Hingano, Erin Clark, Albert Vete, Issac Luke, Charlie Gubb, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Ben Henry, Ligi Sao.
Interchange: Viliami Kaveinga, James Gavet, Upu Poching, Jazz Tevaga, Bunty Afoa, Marata Niukore, Kane Telea, Semisi Tyrell.

Kick-off 5.30pm.