Rugby League: Warriors' young star comes back in at the deep end

By PETER JESSUP

Lance Hohaia will make his return to the Warriors on Saturday night after a month out with a groin strain - to meet the toughest team in the NRL competition.

And his coach is confident the teenager can handle the job against the Canterbury Bulldogs.

"I've got no doubts about him whatsoever," Daniel Anderson said yesterday.



But Anderson has other doubts. He has named a six-man bench because he hasn't had time this week to study videos, analyse the opposition and plot their downfall.

Among those on the bench is back utility David Myles, who has not played since round six against the Bulldogs in Wellington.

Centre Vinnie Anderson is still a chance but wasn't named. He has an as-yet-unidentified foot injury.

X-rays yesterday did not find a break, and a scan is planned to check for a stress fracture.



The Bulldogs' centres feature highly on the try-scoring lists, and coach Anderson will want centre Anderson back for his big defence.

Prop Richard Villasanti has a knee tear and is also awaiting a scan.

He was taken from the plane on a wheelchair on Monday, but was walking yesterday.

The visitors have lost five-eighths Braith Anasta, who has a broken thumb and will be out a month.

Jonathon Thurston will start after a handful of games from the bench.

Kiwi centre Willie Talau returns after three weeks out with a shoulder injury and Origin prop Mark O'Meley is back after missing eight games because of a broken jaw.

The Bulldogs' attack is widespread - former Warrior Nigel Vagana leads the NRL in touchdowns with 17, Willie Talau has 11, and national team wing prospect Matt Utai and NZ-born Aussie rep Willie Mason each have nine.

The Warriors' Clinton Toopi is the club's best, one behind Vagana with 16. Ali Lauiti'iti and Brent Webb have nine each, and Stacey Jones and Hohaia seven.



The Bulldogs say their 17-win streak - two off the NRL record - is not troubling them.

But they feel every other club is getting up to their best against them.

In the last two games between the sides, the Warriors have given them too good a start.

Each time, they have got back to within winning distance, only to run out of time.

Bad starts have been the Warriors' problem lately. They have let in an average five tries over their last four games. That can't continue if they want their finals run to carry on, but their 604 points is the most scored by any team.

The Bulldogs, Broncos and Knights are next, around 20 behind.

Playing on their home ground at Ericsson Stadium is bound to boost Warrior confidence, and their chances have to be good.



The psychological advantage they would take from a win would be of more advantage than the two competition points.

If they are to win the premiership, it's likely they will meet Canterbury in the finals.

And victory over the front-runners would also shake the other contenders.

The Bulldogs' patience and composure have built come-from-behind wins two weeks in a row.

The Warriors have to go back to what gives them wins - absorbing the pressure, making no mistakes, waiting for the opportunities and executing them with precision.

* Panthers forward Joel Clinton has admitted making a careless high shot on the Warriors' P.J. Marsh at Penrith on Sunday.

His good record means he gets no ban, but carry-over demerit points mean he will go next time.

New Zealand Warriors: Ivan Cleary, Henry Fa'afili, John Carlaw, Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones (capt), Jerry Seuseu, P.J. Marsh, Mark Tookey, Ali Lauiti'iti, Awen Guttenbeil, Kevin Campion; interchange Brent Webb, Motu Tony, Wairangi Koopu, Logan Swann, Justin Morgan, David Myles.

Canterbury Bulldogs: Luke Patten, Hasem El Masri, Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau, Matt Utai, Jonathon Thurston, Brent Sherwin, Willie Mason, Corey Hughes, Steve Price (capt), Steve Reardon, Jamie Feeney, Darren Smith; interchange Tony Grimaldi, Adam Perry, Tony Polglase, Mark O'Meley, Paul Rauhihi 18th man.