NRL: Kemp ready to face old team-mate Vatuvei

Denan Kemp. Photo / Getty Images

Former Warriors winger Denan Kemp says he isn't losing sleep over today's confrontation with Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei.

Stopping Vatuvei is one of the NRL's most daunting assignments and the lightly-built Kemp will be giving away size and weight when they collide when the Broncos host the Warriors today.

Kemp got to know Vatuvei during a frustrating stint with the Warriors last season and feels ready for the task.

"I'm not intimidated by his size but I definitely respect his ability and respect that he is big and he is strong," Kemp told the Australian newspaper. "I won't be giving him too much time to get wound up if I can help it."

The NRL's media guide lists Kemp at 92kg and Vatuvei at 112kgs, although there may be some doubt that Kemp weighs even that much.

"As a backline, we've just got to help each other out. I have to tackle hard and be aggressive and hopefully that will be enough," Kemp said. "He's one of the best wingers in the game. He looks imposing, but I trained with him for a year and I won't be losing any sleep."

Kemp scored 21 tries for Brisbane in 2008, before joining the Warriors. After a bright start last year, it didn't go well and he scored just one try in 10 matches before dropping out of the first team.

He has been criticised, perhaps unfairly in some quarters, for being a dud buy, but says: "It's a different style of play; a different team. It just didn't seem to work for me in Auckland."

It was Kemp's 2008 exploits which captured the Warriors' interest but that kind of finishing disappeared on the heavier fields of Auckland and as the Warriors struggled for form - and Kemp's confidence plummeted.

However, the Broncos welcomed him back and, although a knee injury disrupted his pre-season, he made an emotional return to Suncorp Stadium in round one - scoring the winning try against the Cowboys and saluting the Broncos emblem on his jersey.

"There was a lot of emotion there. It'd been a while since I'd played first grade. It was a long road to get back there," Kemp said.

Meanwhile, while former Cronulla bad boy Seymour has joined the Warriors, the Sharks' search for a replacement has led them to another halfback with baggage, former Parramatta Eels half Tim Smith.

Sharks officials told the Australian they had spoken to Smith's management over a potential return to the NRL.

Smith, currently playing for the Brisbane Easts club, was registered with the Broncos but they have given him their blessing to join the Sharks.

Smith was suspended by Parramatta in 2007 following several alcohol-related incidents and quit the NRL early in 2008 after revealing he suffered from bipolar disorder.

- Agencies