League: Everything's going just Fien

Nathan Fien has big boots to fill. Ian Hitchcock / Getty Images

When the 2006 Warriors run out for their 262nd game in the Australian premiership on Sunday there will be a marked difference from the teams that played the 11 preceding seasons.

No Stacey Jones.

Wearing the number seven jersey, presenting plenty of confidence in himself and carrying plenty from his captain and coach will be Nathan Fien.

He's slightly taller, slightly lighter, but Fien didn't want to talk about comparisons.

"I'm confident in my own game, I'm confident about what I can do on the field and I'm confident about the guys around me," he said.

He didn't want to try to be Stacey Jones MkII.

"With Stacey gone everyone has to take a bit more responsibility."

And there were signs that was happening. His combination with Sione Faumuina at five-eighth had improved as the three pre-season trials progressed.

Fien will be the long-game kicker, with options to go for Lance Hohaia or Brent Webb if he is boxed. He is predominantly a right-foot kicker but can use his left.

Faumuina has been trialling chip and grubber kicks as the Warriors seek to expand their attacking arsenal once they get inside the opposition 10 metres. "He's crafty close to the line," Fien said.

They had not scored as many tries as they'd have liked in 2005.

"We didn't force the repeat sets that you need to grind sides down."

But to get a good kicking game going you needed good set-up through the six tackles.

In that regard Fien said his job would be made easier by the big boys the Warriors have. "They can destroy a defensive line." For him, it was a matter of picking out the right runner, then backing up.

Stepping up to start at halfback and running the team was a big challenge but one he looked forward to.

The salary cap drama had served to harden the team's resolve and despite the setback, the team spirit was good.

"It feels like it did at North Queensland when we first made the semis [in 2004]," he said.

"You know when you look across the line that the bloke next to you is going to show up for you. I can feel big things to come."

The one poor aspect of play in three pre-season trials has been slow starts.

Against Canberra, North Queensland and the Bulldogs they conceded around 20 points before replying, then coming home the stronger in all three games, winning the last.

"We've spoken about the slow start. Field position goes a long way towards winning and it's going to be a long afternoon on Sunday if we give the Storm position and let them get a start. But they way we dominated the Bulldogs in the second half is testament to our training and the fitness of the team. We were full of running at the end."

Fien faces a new halfback at the Storm, 21-year-old Cooper Cronk taking over from Matt Orford who has shifted to Manly.

"He's a smart player but he hasn't had that much experience. Maybe if we put a bit of pressure on he'll do something uncharacteristic, make some mistakes."

But he knew the Storm would likewise be lining him up.

"That's what the game is about, big man on little man."

He liked the defensive aspect of the game and didn't shirk his share of tackling, he said.

"I won't be hiding. But as the halfback you have to keep some petrol in the tank for attack."

Coach Ivan Cleary has faith in Fien as first-choice halfback and in Faumuina at five-eighth. They would not try to replicate Jones' game. He had hoped for better execution in their trials but that would come with experience.

"Stacey was one out of the box. I want Nathan Fien to play his own game."


Nathan Fien

* Born: August 11, 1979 at Mt Isa.
* Queensland Junior clubs: Brothers Mt Isa, Central Townsville
* Height: 1.72m
* Weight: 83kg
* NRL debut: R1 2000 for the Cowboys, 113 games for 24 tries. 22 games and seven tries for the Warriors in 2005.