By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors management is upset that a Canterbury Bulls official was apparently involved in an attempt to poach one of their up-and-coming young players.
The club complained to the Bulls management and to the New Zealand Rugby League after prop Dallas Rennie said that an approach was made
to him on behalf of the Sydney Sharks while the Sharks' squad was in Christchurch last weekend.
Warriors coach Daniel Anderson said he was furious after finding that the Bulls' Geoff Whittaker had spoken to the 18-year-old prop to advise him of interest from the Sharks.
Rennie was signed last year to a joint NZRL/Warriors development programme and has been training with the Warriors' elite squad for months.
"We've put time and money into the player and this is what we have to put up with from a guy we've given coaching assistance to," Anderson said.
The Warriors' coach agreed that he had given Whittaker "a big verbal".
The NZRL began an inquiry yesterday and Christchurch board member Bill Robb called Whittaker to a meeting last night to explain his actions.
The outcome may determine further action up to and including a joint NZRL/Warriors complaint to the National Rugby League under anti-tampering rules. These prevent approaches to contracted players mid-season and allow for fines.
Bar the Rennie business, Anderson was happy with performances against the Sharks and Bulls in Christchurch, especially from the senior players.
He will wait until after tomorrow's training before naming the team that will face South Sydney at Carlaw Park on Sunday. Anderson will use a maximum 18 players in the club's last pre-season match before the competition starts next month.
Those not playing against Souths would move into the squad only via injury, an outstanding effort at training or a poor performance on Sunday from one of the "elite" players.
Anderson said there was nothing wrong with the Warriors' motivation in the 30-30 draw against the Sharks last Sunday. The game had revealed some errors he had not coached against so "we'll be better this Sunday and I'm sure we'll still get better after that".
Prop Ali Lauiti'iti is showing no signs of his weekend concussion but the medical staff will advise on his availability.
Clinton Toopi, Logan Swann and P. J. Marsh are all likely to be given more time to recover from injuries so the team is likely to closely resemble that from last weekend.
Anderson expects this Sunday's game to follow the pre-season trend for high scores.
"I think we can score at least 20 and I'd like to keep them below that - it'll be a real good game."
He watched the Souths v St George Charity Shield game and, after reviewing the Warriors-Sharks video, offered the same verdict on all four teams: "Rusty. Everyone is a bit scratchy, a bit loose, and I expect they'll all get tighter technically."
Former Warrior Jason Death will not be playing for Souths on Sunday.
His lock spot will be taken by Shane Rigon in what coach Craig Coleman said was a rotation of players rather than any attempt to shield Death from extra attention he might receive in Auckland.
Captain Adam Muir is also being rested but both will travel with the Souths squad, which arrives Friday night and will train at Carlaw Park on Saturday.
All bar two of the visiting Souths squad have NRL experience but they are a cobbled together mix of the ageing, the returning and those who left other clubs because they were back-up to established players.
Likely Warriors side: Ivan Cleary, Shontayne Hape, David Myles, John Carlaw, Francis Meli, Motu Tony, Stacey Jones, Jerry Seuseu, Monty Betham (capt), Iafeta Paleaa'esina, Awen Guttenbeil, Ali Lauiti'iti, Kevin Campion. Interchange: Justin Morgan, Richard Villasanti, Wairangi Koopu, Henry Fa'afili.
South Sydney: Wade McKinnon (former Parramatta), Scott McLean (Eagles), Jacin Sinclair (Balmain), Andrew King (Eagles), Brent Grose (Sharks), Owen Craigie (capt, Tigers), Brad Watts (Storm), Adam Peek (Bulldogs), Jamie Fitzgerald (Dragons), Scott Geddes (Dragons), Paul McNicholas (Sharks), Duncan McGillivary (Penrith), Shane Rigon (Roosters/Bradford). Interchange Paul Stringer (Eagles), Frank Puletua (Penrith), Wes Maas (Tigers), David Elvey (Penrith), Terry Lamey (Dapto), Brett Sheehan (Manly), Nathan Merritt (Souths juniors), Blaine Stanley (Sharks).
By PETER JESSUP
The Warriors management is upset that a Canterbury Bulls official was apparently involved in an attempt to poach one of their up-and-coming young players.
The club complained to the Bulls management and to the New Zealand Rugby League after prop Dallas Rennie said that an approach was made
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