League: Kiwi duo enjoying time at Penrith

After stellar seasons back-to-back and a grandfinal win, the Penrith "Hair Bears" have had to learn to deal with adversity and injury this year.

Joe Galuvao will come back to start against the Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday after playing 55 minutes in a loss to the Cowboys last weekend, following a month out with a groin strain.

Tony Puletua, after surgery to repair a pectoral tear, is gone until the last few of the 26 rounds.

Both will be at Ericsson. They will have family in the stands, most of them cheering for the Warriors, where "Little Joe" was a player under a previous administration after coming through the Manurewa club.

Last week was a big one for him: on Wednesday his wife, Maybelle, gave birth to their second child, a son, Judah, to join daughter Praise, 6.

Faith plays a big part in their lives and Galuvao, 26, took plenty of it to Penrith when he moved there in 2001, Maybelle initially paying their way as a singer at the Panthers Leagues Club.

There was suggestion of foul play last week when Galuvao was unavailable for the Kiwis on Friday night but played the Cowboys a day later.

He wouldn't have been match-fit for the international anyway, he said.

He didn't know he was playing for Penrith until two hours before the game.

"The physio gave me the all-clear on Thursday but coach [John Lang] wanted to give me another week to rest and recover properly. On game day he told everyone to bring their boots and when Frank [Pritchard] didn't pull up okay after the test, he [Lang] asked me if I felt confident enough to play.

"I can run fine but it's doing those explosive things on the field; I'm not there yet. I was a bit sore afterwards," he said.

Life's been tough for Puletua but he's not taking it that way as he recovers from surgery to repair a pectoral/chest tear, the first serious injury he's had in nine years of Australian football.

"I'm learning to do all the things you don't have time to do when you're training," Puletua said yesterday as he drove to the doctors to have stitches removed.

He intended asking how long it would be before he can train, even if it's just on a bike, but expects that is at least a fortnight away.

A return to the competition may be as far off as round 22 or 23 but he has not given up hope of making it back in 2005. He expects the Panthers to make the playoffs and wants to use that opportunity to push for his Kiwis jersey back.

"I've tried to take the injury well. I haven't hit the frustrating stage yet. I know it won't help me if I sit around and dwell on it."

He is spending time with his wife, Joan, and son Cyler, 4.

After going from the New Lynn Stags via Auckland age-group teams to Penrith as a teenager in 1998, Puletua, 25, is looked on as a leader at the club, a role he relishes.

"I know my job at the club. I've been here long enough to feel comfortable and confident.

"There are lots of Island kids here and I've seen plenty of them go off track. They lose their way and go to waste. It's really disappointing to me, knowing that they have a lot of talent and could have the career I've got. They have the ability but they lose focus, then they lose everything and totally go off the rails. I'm a senior player and I'll do as much as I can to encourage them."

Puletua and his brother Frank, who has become a regular bench prop this year, Galuvao and Pritchard regularly do "extras" after the Panthers training sessions, working on their speed and stamina rather than strength.

"We're lucky, we don't have to do so much work on our legs. But that extra work helps us in a game."

The combinations that have built up naturally as a result also help them, Puletua said, each knowing what the others might do in play. "We're all Island boys, all forwards. We understand each other's upbringing and it helps us gel in the team."

They attend the same church, the Christian Life Centre in Penrith. They socialise together.

"It works out well on the field, I think. You know each guy's pet-plays, you know which foot he's going to step off. Our team has done well with that."

The commitment in the Panthers is strong, Puletua said, and there is the belief they will make the playoffs, even when they lose, as they did last weekend.

"We know what we can do. We don't get our heads down."

As far as the Kiwis go, "I have to give myself every chance to get back. I'll be grateful if I get back".

He mentions the strong opposition, not least Pritchard, who played a blinder on debut last Friday night.

The Panthers have a big mental edge over the Warriors, who haven't beaten them since 2002.

On Sunday they will have the benefit of the stable and experienced players in the one, six, seven and nine jerseys and the input of Rhys Wesser, Preston Campbell, Craig Gower and Luke Priddis could be the telling factor.

Warriors skipper Steve Price is still suffering some restriction from a hamstring strain and remains in some doubt, but is expected to play.