League: Iro sets tone in naming side to take on Dragons

Tony Iro. Photo / Getty Images

Tony Iro's first official job as Warriors head coach was to farewell the departing Brian McClennan.

His second was to announce a team to take on St George Illawarra in Wollongong on Saturday night.

Iro, McClennan's former assistant, said he was looking for commitment from his players on Saturday and for the final game of the season against the Raiders at Mt Smart eight days later.

The players might be hurting, but probably not as much as McClennan.

They knew he was under pressure and yet turned in a performance against the Panthers at Mt Smart on Sunday that was short on quality, but, more worryingly, passion.

Injured hooker Nathan Friend has been replaced by Alehana Mara and Ukuma Ta'ai comes in for Steve Rapira.

Laurie Daley was yesterday appointed to a two-year deal as the successor to former Blues and Canberra team-mate Ricky Stuart, who stepped down as NSW Origin coach last month to take up a full-time coaching role with Parramatta.

DRAGONS

Wollongong, 7.30pm Saturday

Jason Nightingale
Brett Morris
Chase Stanley
Matt Cooper
Daniel Vidot
Jamie Soward
Ben Hornby (c)
Dan Hunt
Mitch Rein
Trent Merrin
Matt Prior
Ben Creagh
Dean Young
Dragons: Josh Miller, Leeson Ah Mau, Will Matthews, Jack de Belin, Jack Stockwell.

WARRIORS

Carlos Tuimavave
Bill Tupou
Ben Henry
Lewis Brown
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Shaun Johnson
Russell Packer
Pita Godinet
Jacob Lillyman
Feleti Mateo
Elijah Taylor
Micheal Luck
Warriors: Alehana Mara, Ukuma Ta'ai, Sione Lousi, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Konrad Hurrell.