Krisnan Inu of the Warriors warms up during training at the Suburbs League Club in Greymouth before a fundraising match last month. Photo / Simon Baker
Star off-season recruit Krisnan Inu will debut for the New Zealand Warriors on the wing and Isaac John has been brought in at standoff for their National Rugby League match against Wests Tigers in Sydney on Saturday night.
Inu, 24 on Thursday, comes in to replace the club's record tryscorer
Manu Vatuvei, who is sidelined for eight weeks by a knee injury.
John, returning from knee surgery, will wear the No 6 jersey ahead of James Maloney, who is to miss this match after taking an early guilty plea on a grade one dangerous contact charge for his charge on Parramatta fullback Jarryd Hayne during his team's 18-24 loss in Auckland last weekend.
"It's naturally disappointing to lose Manu for a couple of months and to have James suspended for a week so early in the season," Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said today.
"But over a period of time we have been striving to develop depth in our squad and once again we will test it. You always need players to be able to come into the side for a variety of reasons."
Inu watched the Warriors' season-opening loss last Saturday from the stands at Eden Park.
"Manu's injury is a big disappointment for all of us and I really feel for him," Inu said.
"But I'm also excited to have the chance to make my debut for the club. I've got to make the most this chance because there's so much competition for spots in the side."
While Inu is to make his first appearance for his new club after 78 games for Parramatta, Tokoroa-born John will be lining up for the Warriors for the ninth time.
John had five games for them last year, the last of them the gritty 12-6 win against Penrith in July when a knee injury ended his season.
Other than the two forced changes, Cleary has named the same players used against Parramatta apart from bringing prop Jeremy Latimore on to a five-man interchange bench for Steve Rapira.
New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Glen Fisiiahi, Joel Moon, Jerome Ropati, Krisnan Inu, Isaac John, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering (captain), Feleti Mateo, Micheal Luck.
Interchange: Shaun Berrigan, Jacob Lillyman, Ben Matulino, Lewis Brown, Jeremy Latimore.
- NZPA
