KEY POINTS:
The Warriors' preparation for the new NRL season steps up a gear today but it is an equally important day for their opponents, the Auckland Lions.
The two sides square off in a trial match at Mt Smart Stadium this afternoon in what is the first serious hitout
for the recently assembled Lions.
The club has been included in the New South Wales Premier League and will play their home games as curtain-raisers to the Warriors. Their first, against Parramatta, will be before the Warriors' NRL opener against the Eels at Mt Smart Stadium on March 17.
Lions coaches Graeme Norton and Brian McClennan held an open trial in Auckland last month, from which they picked a squad of 17.
They will also include in their side's Warriors players not needed for first team duty each weekend.
Despite the late start to pre-season training, Norton is encouraged by what he's seen.
"It's all coming along really well," he said. "We might not start the season as a top team but as the season progresses and the guys get fitter and more accustomed to the speed of the game we are going to be a handful.
"At the moment we have a training programme of about 12 hours a week and the guys are learning how to be professionals. We're training at 6am and 5pm most days of the week so it's pretty rigorous."
The establishment of the Lions is seen as a significant development for the Warriors. It's hoped that it will help to bridge the vast gap between playing in the NRL and Bartercard Cup.
A large proportion of the squad is made up of players from the Mt Albert club, which played as the Auckland Lions in last year's Bartercard Cup. Mt Albert have set the standard domestic-ally in recent times, having won the last three Bartercard Cup titles, two of the last three Fox Memorials and have also appeared in the past three reserve grade grand finals.
Although the some of the more established Warriors - like Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Wairangi Koopu, Nathan Fien and new signings Wade McKinnon and Logan Swann - will be rested today, it is still a strong side. The Lions will be supplemented by seven players from the Warriors' elite development squad.
Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Todd Byrne, Tony Martin, Cooper Vuna, Michael Crockett, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, George Gatis, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Louis Anderson, Corey Lawrie. Interchange: Sonny Fai, Wayne McDade, Russell Packer, Constantine Mika, Malo Solomona, Miguel Start, Scott Jones.
Auckland Lions (one to be added): Patrick Kapi, Piripi Neho Popata, David Fisi'iahi, Paul Fisi'iahi, Bill Tupou, Steve Buckingham, Isaac John, Upu Poching, Simon Head, Shannon Stowers, Toleafoa Leaupepe, Lui Toimoana, Fabian Souter, Marty Mitchell, Kelvin Wright, Paora Packer, Leeson Ah Mau, Ben Matulino, Hayden Davis.
- HERALD ON SUNDAY