Leivaha Pulu. Photo / photosport.co.nz
Warriors back-rower Leivaha Pulu says he'll happily make way for Simon Mannering as the former skipper continues to work his way back to full fitness ahead of tomorrow's clash against Brisbane.
Intrigue surrounds the make-up of the Warriors forward pack to face the Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium, with Mannering again named on the bench after overcoming a shoulder injury to get through close to an hour of work in last week's win over the North Queensland Cowboys.
Mannering's initial replacement, Isaiah Papali'i, has also been included among the extended reserves after making a swift recovery from a knee injury suffered in the round two win over the Titans.
Pulu performed strongly while filling in for Papali'i and has grown in confidence over the past four games, but the hard-running Gold Coast recruit says he's prepared to play a reduced role once Mannering is ready to reclaim his starting spot on the left edge.
"It's all right, I'll still be going out there to do my job for the team," Pulu said. "Simon came back on to the left edge and it's awesome to have him back. He brings another presence, he's been around for that long and I'm still learning from him as well.
"I don't know what's in Mooks' [coach Stephen Kearney's] plans. I'm happy to put the team before myself and if that means I have to fit in wherever I can, so be it."
Kearney has plenty of options around his forwards, with Mannering equally at home on the edge or at lock, while Adam Blair is able to fill both middle roles of lock or prop, with Jazz Tevaga providing a point of difference off the bench as cover for both the back-row and hooker.
Front-row enforcer James Gavet is expected to miss another couple of weeks with a hamstring injury, but the side has covered his absence well over the last two weeks.
Kearney may make a late change and start with Mannering this week, but Pulu says he's just focused on improving his own play regardless of whether his job description changes.
"I'm happy with the direction I'm going but I can keep improving," he said.
"Tackle technique, there's times in the game where I get a bit sloppy, and just being a voice on the field.
"As you get fatigued you go into your shell and so I need to have a louder voice and be more of a leader in that situation."
The second-placed Warriors are full of momentum having started their campaign with five-straight wins, while the 12th-ranked Broncos suffered their third loss in last Saturday's 15-10 defeat to Newcastle.
Questions are being asked of Brisbane's underperforming halves, Kodi Nikorima and Anthony Milford, with talk strong that big money recruit Jack Bird could make the switch from centre to five-eighth to ignite their attack.
But Pulu believes there's no risk of the Warriors getting too comfortable, with the players desperate to extend their winning run.
"We know they're going to come out firing and the Broncos have always been a classy outfit," he said of coach Wayne Bennett's troops.
"We've got a lot to improve on and it's still a learning curve for us.
"The players understand that. We know our faults and we're still growing as a team and as a club, and as the weeks go by we're just getting hungrier for more.
"But we're keeping our feet on the ground and just looking to better ourselves every week."