KEY POINTS:
Michael Crockett is looking to transfer his tryscoring form to the National Rugby League after getting a recall to the New Zealand Warriors.
The winger has had to bide his time this year playing for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup, but has shown that
his ability to finish hasn't deserted him.
Crockett has grabbed five tries in six matches in the cup competition, previously known as the New South Wales Premier League.
"I'm lucky I've been playing outside some good centres," he said.
"They've done all the work and I can't take that much credit. If you score, you score. It's a bonus."
Crockett, 25, had a roller-coaster debut season with the Warriors last year after his move from Wests Tigers, beginning in explosive fashion with four tries in the first two rounds.
But an elbow injury kept out for eight weeks and he lasted just five minutes of his return match against the Bulldogs, being sent off for a reckless tackle and getting a two-match ban.
In all, he scored seven tries in 14 NRL appearances for the Warriors, including one in the playoff defeat to North Queensland, to take his career tally to 14 in 22.
Injury to Patrick Ah Van has opened the way for his comeback to first-grade and he will combine with centre Brent Tate on the left-hand side.
"It's obviously going to be a lot faster," he said of the step up from the NSW Cup.
"I've done plenty of training and had good match time with the Vulcans, so I've got plenty of confidence. I'll be outside Tatey, so I'm feeling pretty good."
Crockett still has two sex assault charges hanging over him arising from a night out after the Warriors' away draw with the Sydney Roosters last August.
He has denied two counts of having sex without consent with a 19-year-old woman and faces a committal hearing in June to determine if he will stand trial.
The Warriors have backed the Sydney-born Australian in his bid to clear his name.
"The club have been behind me 100 per cent," he said.
"I couldn't ask for any more of them. They've been great."
Crockett said he had been able to keep the matter off his mind while on the field.
"Once I get to training or play the games, it's just footy, footy, footy 100 per cent," he said.
His inclusion is one of three changes coach Ivan Cleary has made to his squad in the wake of the 48-20 defeat to the Cowboys in Townsville last weekend.
Ryan Shortland returns at centre for Jerome Ropati, who is spending a second injury stint on the sidelines this season, this time with a hamstring problem.
In the reserves, second rower Wairangi Koopu comes in for his 155th NRL match in place of rookie Sonny Fai, who will turn out for Vulcans.
Koopu's game time this year has been limited to coming off the bench against Manly and he said it was simply a case of being patient.
"I'm old enough to know that you can't start throwing the dummy out of the cot," he said.
"You just have to buckle down and work harder."
The three-test Kiwi said he was looking to bring back his energy levels of previous years and to focus on his role in the team.
"In the trials especially, I went away from what I do best and tried to concentrate on other things and it cost me a little bit," he said.
"I know this week I have one job to do and that's my own."
- NZPA