Warriors: Hohaia to play 150th game

Fullback Lance Hohaia will join four former teammates in the Warriors' 150-game club in Sunday's 11th-round National Rugby League match against South Sydney at Mount Smart Stadium.

Hohaia, 27, will add his name to a list topped by Stacey Jones, 261, and also including Logan Swann, 195, Awen Guttenbeil, 170 and Wairangi Koopu, 159.

After making his debut against North Queensland in 2002, Hohaia played his 100th game against the Cowboys in 2008.

He has scored 309 points including 45 tries so far.

Marking the occasion with Hohaia will be captain Simon Mannering, confirmed today to make his return from his hamstring injury after withdrawing from last Saturday's fixture against North Queensland.

Mannering will make only his third appearance of the season, teaming up in the second row with Ukuma Ta'ai.

The captain's comeback sees Lewis Brown, a late replacement for Mannering last week, being named on a five-man bench.

Returning to NRL action to replace the injured Manu Vatuvei is 19-year-old winger Bill Tupou.

Medical staff are still assessing the nature of Vatuvei's injury after an x-ray and a CT scan ruled out a fracture in his left leg. Vatuvei's absence from the side this week has left him stranded on 99 NRL games.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said Hohaia's achievement was a highly significant one.

"There aren't too many players in the modern era who make it to 150 games for one club," he said.

"It's a real feat that Lance should become just the fifth to do it at our club. He's had a lot of different playing roles for us, filling in basically every backline position but settling in at fullback these days where he's done a really good job for us."

After a false start last week, Cleary said Mannering was definitely right to play this week.

"He didn't feel right himself last week despite training really well but he's fine to go this week," he said.

"Having Simon back as captain and in his back row role is a major boost for the side. There's no doubt he brings so much to our side and we've missed him not being out there."

Mannering picked up his hamstring injury in the pre-season before aggravating it while scoring a try against the Brisbane Broncos on March 28.

Retaining his place in the starting line-up is 22-year-old prop Upu Poching who impressed Cleary with his debut outing against the Cowboys.

Ta'ai also holds onto his starting position after a strong display against North Queensland in which he scored his fourth try in five games so far this season.

Warriors team to play South Sydney on Sunday: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Bill Tupou, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Upu Poching, Simon Mannering (captain), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck.

Interchange (one to be omitted): Lewis Brown, Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal.

- NZPA