League: Loss of key players opens way for youth

Micheal Luck. Photo / NZPA

The long-term loss of Micheal Luck and Jacob Lillyman may have left some sizeable holes but it's the auditions for centre and prop that are the key features of the Warriors' trial match against South Sydney in Coffs Harbour tonight.

News that Luck will miss up to half the season after suffering complications to hand surgery he underwent late last year have left the Warriors facing a significant experience deficit.

The veteran lock having also undergone shoulder surgery that would have kept him out until as late as round four anyway, the impact of Luck's loss may not be as pronounced.

However with hooker Nathan Friend the club's only major signing, balanced against the departures of Joel Moon, Shaun Berrigan, Lance Hohaia, Brett Seymour, Aaron Heremaia and Jeremy Latimore, the club is most certainly now leaning heavily on its youth brigade.

While veteran Jerome Ropati and the enigmatic Krisnan Inu project as the likely centres when the season kicks off against Manly at Eden Park on March 4, neither has travelled to Sydney for tonight's match.

Konrad Hurrell, Ben Henry and Carlos Tuimavave are the players jostling for positions and all three should get the chance to prove their claims.

Hurrell's barnstorming running in the U20s side last season captured the imagination.

However the reality is the union convert is likely the least ready of the club's notable prospects to step up to NRL level.

While Hurrell still has some rough edges that need knocking off, Henry is a well-rounded player who has been knocking on the door of the NRL squad for some time. While he is typically a back-rower, coach Brian McClennan is impressed by his pace and believes Henry will be comfortable at centre.

After guiding the club's Toyota Cup to consecutive championships, Tuimavave also appears ready for the step up.

A five-eighth at the junior level, Tuimavave's size and pace have the likes of recruitment manager Dean Bell predicting his long term future will be at centre.

While not yet ready to tip his hand, McClennan said he had been impressed by all of the graduates from the club's junior ranks.

"You looked at their faces four weeks into the pre-season and you could see the shock at the volume of training they had to do," McClennan said.

"But they kept battling away. They are tough kids. Acka [U20 coach John Ackland] teaches them to be tough."

Elijah Taylor shapes as a natural replacement for Luck, and the club has plenty of additional cover in the back row, even with Steve Rapira already detailed to bolster the propping ranks.

"There is competition for positions there and that is what we are after," McClennan said.

Warriors squad: Lewis Brown, Glen Fisiiahi, Nathan Friend, Pita Godinet, Ben Henry, Konrad Hurrell, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Shaun Johnson, Kevin Locke, Sione Lousi, James Maloney, Simon Mannering (c), Feleti Mateo, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Sam Rapira, Steve Rapira, Ukuma Ta'ai, Elijah Taylor, Carlos Tuimavave, Bill Tupou, Manu Vatuvei. by Steve Deane