NRL: 'No pressure' on Mannering to take a break

Simon Mannering and Nathan Friend of the Warriors look dejected during the round 23 NRL match between the Penrith Panthers and the New Zealand Warriors. Photo / Getty Images.

Warriors captain Simon Mannering could benefit from being rested from the Kiwis end of year tour of England, but coach Andrew McFadden won't be pressuring him to stay home.

Concerns about the long-term fitness of the workaholic back-rower are valid, with the fatigued 28-year-old being rested from today's team session ahead of Sunday's away match with Wests Tigers.

McFadden acknowledged Mannering's health and longevity could be assisted by sitting out the three November tests against England and warm-up match against Leeds, but backed his skipper to make the right call.

"Look, I think it could help him, there's no doubt about that," said McFadden.

"That's up to him. If he wants to go on the tour and he feels comfortable enough then I see no problem with it."

McFadden acknowledged concerns over Mannering's physical state were a talking point but insisted he would not be pressuring him to rest, after Herald columnist Chris Rattue suggested New Zealand league would benefit if Mannering stayed home in November.

"I have seen that speculation but certainly I won't be getting involved. If he wants to go on that tour then he'll go," he said.

"Simon's earned the right to make his own decisions and I'd never ever try to influence him any other way so that will be a decision he makes."

After captaining the Kiwis to Four Nations glory at the tail end of last season, Mannering has backed up to play all 22 games for the Warriors so far this year, and the Anzac test win over the Kangaroos.

Never one to make much fuss, he struggled through a period early in the season with a gastro bug that saw him rested from some team training and even replaced late in matches against Wests Tigers, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Titans and Raiders.

McFadden said Mannering's absence from today's field session was just a part of managing his workload, while fullback Sam Tomkins and Bodene Thompson also withdrew to rest and apply ice to different bumps and bruises.

"He's done a lot of work this year so we've just got to try to get him feeling fresh for this weekend," he said.

"It's that time of year so we've just got to manage this. We've still got to be smart about the way we prepare so a couple of guys we pulled out but we'd planned to do that and we'll be fine.

"We're going to have to really find some creative ways to get ourselves up this week but the training session there today shows me that they're still ready to play footy this week."