Rugby League: Australians put straight in

By Peter Jessup

Injury continues to bite into the ranks of the Auckland Warriors, with only the buying of John Simon and the return of Jason Death giving coach Mark Graham the opportunity to vary his side for the trip to Penrith.

Both Australians come into the side, Simon impressing everyone with his kicking game and the speed with which he has picked up the Warriors' calls after arriving on Sunday and Graham judging Death as "jumping out of his skin to play." He will come off the bench.

Graham has named utility Shane Endacott at lock in what may give some foresight of his intentions for the future: Death can cover for Endacott at lock for this game and Endacott can move to the backs if injury demands it.

The move pushes Logan Swann into the second row and that is where he will be in future if both Death and Robbie Mears hold their places with continued good form.

Swann's ball-play has improved markedly in recent games. When he is stood wide, his bursts through opposition backlines and the offloads he has turned on after breaking the line or drawing have turned on tries for himself and team-mates and Graham is presumably looking for more of the same.

Simon offers the solid defence Endacott brought to standoff but has a kicking game that should produce more on attack.

His new mates were impressed yesterday with the way he could make things difficult with a floating high ball.

Halfback Stacey Jones was smiling about Simon's contribution after training.

"He's brought a new dimension. He's been around 10 years and you can tell it - you can tell when he talks he knows what he's talking about," Jones said, adding that he was looking forward to getting the backline moving with Simon outside him.

Not considered were Brady Malam (abdominal strain), Lee Oudenryn (broken thumb), Awen Guttenbeil (broken ankle), skipper Matthew Ridge (suspended).

There was a heartening performance for the coaching staff this week when each of the players was asked to stand in front of the class and explain their role then face questions from the floor.

All performed well, Graham said, giving him hope the team would soon overcome the inexperience that had hampered them.

* The Maori team left yesterday for their three-test tour of Papua New Guinea and will stay in camp at Lae ahead of the first game there on Sunday.

Auckland Warriors: Carl Doherty, Odell Manuel, Joe Galuvao, Nigel Vagana, Sean Hoppe, John Simon, Stacey Jones (c), Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Tony Tuimavave, Logan Swann, Shane Endacott; interchange Cliff Beverley, Ali Lauitiiti, Jerry Seu Seu, Jason Death; 18th man Bryan Henare.

Penrith Panthers (likely): Peter Jorgensen, Robbie Beckett, Ryan Girdler, Sid Domick, Chris Hicks, Craig Gower, Greg Alexander, Carl McNamara, Brad Drew, Craig Greenhill, Scott Sattler, Matt Adamson, John Cross; interchange Duncan MacGillivray, Nigel Gaffey, Shane Elford, Troy Perkins.