Rugby League: Warriors' reshuffling hard to comprehend

By PETER JESSUP

The Auckland Warriors will go to Stadium Australia this weekend behind in the kicking department, with their first-choice, Ivan Cleary, still two weeks away from fitness, as they face the Bulldogs' radar-boot, Daryl Halligan.

Fullback Cliff Beverley has paid for letting the ball bounce around the Warriors' goal-line, and is being sent to the Newtown Jets this week. Wing/centre Scott Pethybridge will move back again.

On the wing, Odell Manuel is out again, Henry Faafili starts and Shontayne Hape, dropped after the loss to the Dragons, comes back to the bench.

The tinkering continues with Talite Liavaa back to start at prop and Mark Tookey back to the bench, with Jerry Seu Seu a travelling reserve after starting against Parramatta.

How much gain can be made in reshuffling a side already down on confidence, already struggling to find the scoreline and already lacking the communication and combination to stifle the opposition attacks?

Beverley let high balls bounce in his first premiership game last season. A converted standoff, he clearly needs help to master that art.

But otherwise his performance at the back has been one of few highlights for the Warriors, and his positional play, defence and kick-return have all improved since he joined the club.

Matthew Ridge continues to be the man most missed.

Cleary may return against the Cowboys at Townsville in 10 days, as his shoulder muscles are still recovering from the tear when he dislocated the joint against Penrith.

A second ray of hope is Awen Guttenbeil, who has been given the all-clear to resume full contact training.

The foot ligament tear and reattachment he underwent would have ended many a footballing career and the Warriors' medical staff credit Guttenbeil's head-up and hard work attitude with putting him in a position to go on. His performance under stress will be monitored carefully and he may be available for selection in five to six weeks.

The Warriors desperately need competition points before then. They are last on the ladder, which admittedly is cramped because of the up-and-down start teams have had this year, but are also fast approaching the point of no return in terms of the top-eight playoffs.

Joining Beverley at Newtown this week are Scott Coxon as he comes back from a toe injury and Joe Galuvao, moving up after testing his hamstring with Manurewa at the weekend.

Warriors: Scott Pethybridge, Lee Oudenryn, David Myles, Nigel Vagana, Henry Faafili, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Talite Liavaa, Logan Swann, Ali Lauiti'iti, Jason Death; interchange Shontayne Hape, Tony Tuimavave, Matt Spence, Mark Tookey, 18th man Jerry Seuseu.