Rugby League: Warriors gamble on rookie stand-off

By Peter Jessup

Warriors coach Mark Graham is not a big betting man but this weekend he is taking a huge Steel Balls-style punt on a kid from Glen Eden.

Graham has dropped stand-off Gene Ngamu and his bench replacement Monty Betham, and will start 21-year-old new signing Cliff Beverley against a Manly side also struggling to find form in the halves.

Beverley has been training with the top side since he was plucked from club football after trials in January, but his experience of playing under pressure so far amounts to Fox final appearances for Glenora.

He had half-games at fullback for the Warriors in their Country Carnival games against the Melbourne Storm and the Broncos.

It was Beverley's performance for Glenora in their 54-10 dumping of Mt Albert on Sunday that convinced Graham he was ready for the step up.

Manly were to name their side overnight but Beverley appears likely to get the chance to make a big name for himself in coming up against Craig Field, who has been out of form.

Normally the sort of 46-0 thrashing Manly suffered at the hands of Sydney City on Sunday would have had Bob Fulton bursting eardrums in a bawl out.

But insiders say Fulton has lost the intensity he was renowned for, a combination of factors including the cancer afflicting his wife, impending retirement and six years in charge blunting his enthusiasm.

In the Warriors camp, Ali Lauitiiti, with five appearances off the bench last season and two this year, has to step up to the starting line-up given the broken ankle setback for second-rower Awen Guttenbeil.

Lauitiiti has a great step, heaps of power and a good offload, but he needs to improve his tackling style and keep them lower after two questionable hits in each of the Warriors two games so far.

In the meantime, for Guttenbeil, surgeons have inserted a screw into the fibula just above the ankle to hold the broken bone in place. The screw will be removed in six to eight weeks.

He will be able to do strengthening work, including weights and pool exercises, but will be out for at least 12 weeks.

On the wing, Lee Oudenryn has made a better-than-expected recovery from an ankle ligament strain and was named in the starting lineup, though doctors still call him a 70 per cent chance.

Shane Endacott, who fronted with better-than-honest performances in a variety of positions last season, comes onto the bench with the prospect of playing second row, stand-off or centre depending how the game runs.

The Warriors have again escaped penalty from the judiciary in the wash-up from Saturday's narrow loss to the North Sydney Bears.

Betham has admitted a careless high tackle charge arising from a last-minute hit on North Sydney's Glen Morrison, the penalty of 93 demerit points meaning no suspension until next time.

Judicial commissioner Jim Hall elected not to charge Nigel Vagana, who was reported for a similar offence, a successful penalty goal for the Bears deemed punishment enough.

Meanwhile, four more players have moved onto retainers with the club - Glenora prop Greg Ashby and lock Kosta Malemetinos, Hibiscus Coast forward Reece Guy and Bay of Plenty wing/fullback Joe Flavell join the club's first development training.

Auckland Warriors: Matthew Ridge (c), Odell Manuel, Lee Oudenryn, Nigel Vagana, Joe Galuvao, Cliff Beverley, Stacey Jones, Terry Hermansson, Jason Death, Brady Malam, Tony Tuimavave, Ali Lauitiiti, Logan Swann. Interchange, Joe Vagana, Shane Endacott, Bryan Henare, Tony Tatupu.