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KEY POINTS:
The starting lineup for the Warriors opening match of the NRL season against Parramatta in mid-March has several names pencilled in and other spots open for those who perform well in the club's last trial against the Gold Coast Titans.
Top-grade certainties lock Micheal Luck and prop Sam
Rapira will make their first appearance of 2009 in the game at Oakes Park in Lismore on Saturday.
The only one of the 2008 regulars missing possible selection for the season opener at Mt Smart on March 14 is prop Evarn Tuimavave, who is likely to miss the season start due to a neck muscle tear.
The team trains this morning and the juggling of the halves is likely to continue with the variation of Stacey Jones and Nathan Fien at halfback, Fien and Joel Moon running at five-eighth, interspersed with under-20s players Isaac John and Storm buy Liam Foran.
Coach Ivan Cleary said he had yet to settle combinations and the run against the Titans would give him the chance to sort out the approach to the starter against the Eels
"There are plenty of areas we need to improve on despite the wins we've had against Melbourne and the Cowboys. Our goal-line defence certainly wasn't where we wanted it to be last Sunday," Cleary said.
The Titans have named a strong side but have rested star halfback Scott Prince.
The Warriors held their season launch at Mt Smart yesterday with NRL CEO David Gallop the headline speaker and he commended the club for the turnaround in both its off and on-field performance.
A new television advertising campaign will begin next week depicting local kids becoming local heroes and the Warriors were a prime example of that ideal, Gallop said.
"It's a core strength of our game." For that reason, the board ruled out a draft system he said.
He attended the finals game against the Roosters at Mt Smart at the end of the 2008 season and felt as soon as he entered the black-clad stadium that it vindicated the NRL's decision to change to home playoffs for teams that earned them.
The Sparc review into league in New Zealand was probably long overdue, Gallop said, and he was pleased the districts were voting to support its recommendations.
Gallop joked that he wanted Warriors captain Steve Price, 34, to continue on past the 300-game mark he will reach this year and keep playing until he was 40 because Price had made it clear he wanted the NRL CEO's job.
"He'll get far less hits to the head if he keeps playing footy rather than taking my job."
The club unveiled kit supplied by new sponsor and gear manufacturer Canterbury.
Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said they had established stability and security in terms of the management and playing squad and there was an air of expectation.
The Warriors' ex-Newcastle prop Jesse Royal along with Patrick Ah Van, Lewis Brown, Liam Foran, Daniel O'Regan, Herman Retzlaff, Malo Solomona and Michael Witt will play in a trial 13 against the Auckland Vulcans at Walter Massey Park in Mangere on Saturday at 2pm.
SQUADS
Warriors: Wade McKinnon, Denan Kemp, Manu Vatuvei, Aidan Kirk, Jerome Ropati, Brent Tate, Aaron Heremaia, Joel Moon, Nathan Fien, Stacey Jones, Leeson AH Mau, Russell Packer, Steve Price (C), Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Lance Hohaia, Jacob Lillyman, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Ukuma Tai'ai, Micheal Luck (VC).
Titans: William Zillman, Jordan Atkins, Josh Graham, Brett Delaney, Esi Tonga, Mat Rogers, Brad Davis, Luke Bailey (c), Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Luke O'Dwyer; interchange Ian Donnelly, Brad Meyers, Bodene Thompson, Shannon Walker, Ian Lacey, Will Matthews, David Mead, Sam Tagataese.There are plenty of areas we need to improve on. Warriors coach Ivan Cleary