League: New Warrior carries big responsibility

Former Cowboy Nathan Fien, with son Brodie, is important to the Warriors' plans to revitalise the team.

New Warrior Nathan Fien has a lot of responsibility for helping engineer the side's turnaround.

Since P.J. Marsh was seriously injured in mid-2003, the Warriors have not had a specialist hooker, one who has a kicking game, instead using back-rowers Monty Betham and Louis Anderson out of position.

Fien made his name at halfback for the Cowboys, particularly at the end of last season as they ran into the finals for the first time.

But he played all his junior football in the number nine jersey and, although admitting he's learning how to play there at top level, he was comfortable in it, he said.

Fien makes his debut for his new club against a NZ President's XIII at North Harbour Stadium tomorrow and, given the superior fitness and skills of those around him, it should be a smooth start where he'll have more time to move than will be the case when the season proper starts on March 13 against Manly.

Coach Tony Kemp was pleased with the early combination shown between Fien at dummy-half and Stacey Jones as first receiver in an impromptu opposed training run that developed at the club's open day. He's looking for further understanding from the pair tomorrow.

Quick delivery of the ball to get the forwards rolling and smart connection with Jones for the last-tackle kick will be where Fien can make his mark. If Tevita Latu can regain his form the Warriors have a great foil when Fien is interchanged - a dummy-half runner who can make a mark late in the two halves as big forwards tire.

Giving Jones more room to move is an imperative if the team's star player is to regain his form of their best year in 2002.

"Stacey is looking really, really sharp," Fien said. "Maybe having me over here has given him a kick in the pants [as competition for halfback] but I'm happy at hooker - I've played one State of Origin game there and a handful for North Queensland. Sunday will be a big test though."

Fien is married to Belinda and they have a 14-month-old son, Brodie, who is disturbing his sleep with teething, and another child on the way. He signed for the Warriors mid-2004, then was dropped by Cowboys' coach Graham Murray, who was shortly after forced to reinstate him when injury took Chris Sheppard.

Despite the Cowboys' great season last year, he has no regrets about coming to Auckland.

"None whatsoever. It's a skilful team. I'm looking forward to playing my part in getting the Warriors back up to where we all know they should be on the table.

"I know my role in the side, I've slotted in pretty well. It's not what I do - it's the team philosophy."

Fien said the Warriors' pre-season training regimen had been similar to that of notoriously tough conditioner Billy Johnstone, who went to Townsville from the Bulldogs. "We're as fit as we can be."

He agreed that teams playing the Warriors often went in with the mentality that sustained pressure would break them open. "Stay with them for the first 40 minutes and they would crack."

Tough forwards Steve Price and Ruben Wiki, and the other new buys in himself and wing Todd Byrne from the Roosters, had some responsibility to shore up that mental frailty.

"The young New Zealand players look up to Ruben so much. And Steve, he's won grand finals. We all offer something. Both the coaches and the players have addressed that [collapse under pressure].

"You can definitely tell that the players who were here last season want to put that behind them and forget about it."

At training Fien ran at halfback at times while Jones practised his goal-kicking, but that was just so he was familiar with the routines and able to provide injury cover.

Big wing Manu Vatuvei was repeatedly used to crash the line from second receiver, but his handling let him down too much. Kemp later said he'd named Vatuvei "The Beast", as he resembled former Kiwi Kevin Iro who carried that tag, Iro's game also marred a little too much by dropped ball.

There is already one noticeable mark of Kevin Campion's work - players drop for 10 press-ups when they drop the ball, a practice he imposed on himself when he first came to the club as a player.

The 19 who run out tomorrow have the best chance of making the start side against Manly with Price, who has a shin splint problem and will not be risked in the trial.

He will be okay for the season start, as will Sione Faumuina, who is still recovering from shoulder surgery and is yet to join contact work.

The opposing side, trained by John Ackland, has a mix of NRL experience, from former Warriors Ben Lythe and Odell Manuel to Cooper Vuna and Paul Atkins, who have a handful of games between them. Simon Mannering is a Warriors development player who was a second-rower for Wellington, but will play in the centres, alongside another 2004 Junior Kiwi, Josh Davis, who is signed to Parramatta.

Marist-Richmond coach Bernie Perenara has long rated his son Bernard, who is the President's XIII halfback, as the best player among the Perenara brothers. Former Mt Albert backrower Wayne McDade is playing for North Sydney and paid his own way back for the game, hoping to impress and get an NRL start. Brothers Phil and Artie Shead have spent years in France and elder Artie has a long test record.

But the Warriors should have too much skill, power and pace. They need a big points differential to instil confidence - an important ingredient noticeably wanting last year.

Manly shape up as contenders for the wooden spoon. They, too, will need to be well-dispatched if there is to be any real confidence carried further into the season. If they can't beat the Sea Eagles at home, what chance of getting over the Roosters or Bulldogs away?

Nathan Fien

* 178cm 84kg hooker/halfback.
* Born 1/8/79 Mt Isa, Queensland.
* Married, one child, wife Belinda pregnant.
* NRL debut February 2000.
* 91 games for the Cowboys to 2004.
* Injury: Knee problem kept him out most of 2003.
* Lost two teeth when punched by Luke Ricketson 2004 finals.

The teams

* Warriors:

Brent Webb, Todd Byrne, Tony Martin, Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, Richard Villasanti, Nathan Fien, Evarn Tuimavave, Ruben Wiki, Awen Guttenbeil, Monty Betham; interchange Louis Anderson, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Tevita Latu, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Wairangi Koopu.

* NZ President's XIII:

Backs - Toshio Laiseni, Paul Atkins, Rowan Baxter (Warriors), Josh Davis (Eels/Junior Kiwis), Simon Mannering, Cooper Vuna (Warriors), Robinson Godfrey (Mt Albert/Junior Kiwis), Bernard Perenara (Marist-Richmond), Daniel Vasau, Pinomi Taufea (Counties-Manukau), Ben Lythe (Hibiscus Coast), Dean Shepherd (Glenora Bears); forwards - Artie and Phil Shead (Mt Albert), George Tuakura (Marist-Richmond), Chris Tupou (Northcote), Odell Manuel (Otahuhu), Wayne McDade (North Sydney), Gus Malieatoa-Brown (Mt Albert), Chris Newton (Canterbury Bulls), Willie Live, Sam Rapira, Anthony Tusa.