By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors are sending 11 of their contracted players into the local Bartercard Cup competition this weekend in a significant acceptance of the standard of play in the national tournament.
The club management and coach Mark Graham have long held reservations about the value of putting development squad members
into the local competition, believing that they "unlearned" everything they had been taught.
Graham has spoken to coaches and referees about tackling styles, among other things, in order to gain a uniformity of approach that will carry through with juniors as they move up.
The national league's response has obviously pleased them, Warriors chief executive Trevor McKewen yesterday saying there were a number of reasons they were looking more towards placing players with Bartercard Cup teams, but confirming an improved standard of play was a major one.
"We want to make a commitment to improving the standard locally ourselves, too," he said.
There were some requirements, mainly that players ran out in the positions Graham wanted them in and that the specifics of individuals' play were not changed to suit Bartercard teams.
Most of the 11 to play in the local competition this weekend were formally affiliated with the sides they will start for, except for Australian Scott Coxon, who goes to Hibiscus Coast, and Awen Guttenbeil, who is with Mt Albert.
The club would look at linking players not club-affiliated, including their Australian players, with other sides as they were approached and there was an intention to spread Warriors around rather than play them just in Auckland.
Paul Whatuira goes to Wainuiomata, Wairangi Koopu to Glenora, Peter Lewis to Mt Albert, Jonathon Smith and Clinton Toopi to Otahuhu, Vae Kololo, Henry Perenara and Francis Meli to Marist Richmond and Joe Galuvao to Manurewa.
In addition, the Warriors are sending Mark Tookey, Cliff Beverley and Matt Spence - who has been promised to the Ngongotaha Chiefs, as and when available - to Newtown Jets. To Brisbane Souths go Ben Lythe, Talite Liavaa and Henry Faafili.
The Warriors are the most injury-free they have been for the past couple of seasons, with only Jason Death (broken thumb) and Ivan Cleary (shoulder) not available for selection.
