NRL: Plenty of riches but still hard to get right

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary during training. Photo / Dean Purcell

The key selection conundrum for Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is how he structures the right hand side of the park at centre and wing with the NRL season starting in less than three weeks.

Cleary has a wealth of options thanks to prudent recruitment - despite the loss of right centre Brent Tate to the Cowboys last year. Since Tate's departure, former Parramatta Eel Krisnan Inu has joined the squad while Glen Fisiiahi, a recruit from last season's junior Warriors who won the Toyota Cup, is a contender at wing or fullback.

Add Kevin Locke, Bill Tupou and the maturing Joel Moon and captain Simon Mannering can shore up any perceived defensive weaknesses from the second row, after his move to the right side of the field last year. At this stage Cleary appears keen on partnering Moon with Jerome Ropati in the centres, meaning 23-year-old Inu could get first crack on the right wing - and with possible goal-kicking duties, depending on whether 2010 Warriors young player of the year James Maloney starts at five-eighth. Inu spent most of last season on the left wing with the Eels.

"I'm thinking of Joel as a centre at the moment, he played well in Greymouth [v Newcastle] and obviously the Indigenous All Stars game experience will help [last week]," Cleary says.

New Warriors recruit Feleti Mateo played for the NRL All Stars last week against Moon's side. Cleary is still weighing up Mateo's best position, but he will feature in the starting 13.

"Feleti will play at six or in the back row. We can work that out in the next couple of weeks. [Lock] Micheal Luck is extremely valuable to us, so he will play. Other players' roles may have to change to accommodate Feleti's [ball-playing] skills."

It makes for selection congestion. Ex-Kangaroo Shaun Berrigan will presumably fit at hooker, meaning Aaron Heremaia faces a squeeze, despite playing every game last year. Berrigan can play in the halves or at centre if required, so will be a valuable utility.

Coach Cleary is also thrilled with the results of the club's development programme over several years which saw five of last year's champion junior Warriors signed. He says with Lance Hohaia and Manu Vatuvei the first choice fullback and left wing respectively, the competition down the right hand side shows they are reaping the benefits of bringing through talent.

"Kevin Locke, Fish [Fisiiahi] and Bill Tupou are all doing well. They know everyone can't fit but, with the way injuries occur, the team in round one can be different by round 20.

"Coming off the junior Warriors championship win, the younger players moving into the premier ranks are better prepared than in the past."

Inu is aware of those high standards. He has hinted centre is his preference to avoid missing a jersey.

"There's a lot of talent coming through; there are plenty to push you but as long as I'm on the field I'm happy. The centres are good for getting early ball and getting into the action on defence."

Fisiiahi shapes as a threat when he gets the ball. The 20-year-old has scored four tries in the first two trials against Newcastle and Parramatta. Before joining the junior Warriors two years ago he played rugby at Wesley College and with Counties-Manukau to under-18 and sevens level.

"My preference is for either wing or fullback," Fisiiahi says. "My strength is my pace. I'm an opportunist. I like to take my chances with the ball in the clear, then it's a case of 'run Forrest, run ..."'

He has more lateral movement than Forrest Gump but also learnt a valuable lesson last year in the under-20s; pace isn't everything. A Fisiiahi finishing move against Souths is listed under the heading: 'why you shouldn't celebrate before scoring a try' on youtube.com.

Fisiiahi points to the heavens after collecting the ball and sprinting 80 metres. He gets it dislodged by a chaser as he goes to press it casually.

"My family and friends still bring it up. I'm trying to forget," he laughs. " Put it this way, I won't put the ball down standing up ever again. Wet or dry, I always dive these days."