Veteran prop Sam Rapira is pleased to be back in the Warriors side for their Anzac Day clash with the Titans but he considers himself lucky to have been chosen ahead of numerous other front-row contenders.
Having finally shaken off a nagging hamstring injury, Rapira makes his first appearance inhis 10th and final season with the Warriors before he departs for a stint in the UK Super League at the end of the year.
Three appearances in the NSW Cup convinced coach Andrew McFadden of his readiness but Rapira was almost apologetic when discussing his selection over some of his teammates.
"I was pretty lucky to get the opportunity to play in the top side," Rapira said. "Guys like Charlie [Gubb], Suaia [Matagi] and Sione [Lousi] are playing just as good if not better than me so I feel pretty lucky but hopefully I can do my job this weekend.
"It was a bit of a setback [the injury] but I'm feeling 100 per cent now so I'm ready to go."
In his absence the Warriors have benefited from the impressive form of young front-row duo Sam Lisone and Albert Vete, who Rapira says have set the benchmark for enthusiasm and effort up front.
"They've kept everyone else out so they're doing the job and it's well deserved. We [the other props] just need to try and chase them and do what they're doing."
With Rapira replacing Vete on the bench this week, McFadden will be relying on his experience to help the Warriors eradicate the unforced handling errors that have blighted their play over the past month.
The Warriors have struggled to hang on to the ball when working it off their own line and the added defensive load took its toll late in last week's clash against the Cowboys in Townsville, when hooker Jake Granville sneaked out of dummy-half to post two late tries in his side's come-from-behind win.
Rapira says those defensive lapses are unforgivable and lists ball control and tighter defence around the ruck as essential tasks against the Titans.
"Each extra set you defend takes it out of you, especially in the middle," he said. "There were a couple of tries on the weekend that they scored out of dummy half and that's probably the biggest no-no on the try line.
"But it's through fatigue from defending sets when we shouldn't be so if we eliminate those errors it is a different game and that's a big focus for us this weekend.
"Personally I think it's a mind-set. We've got to plan to go through them before we go around them.
"It's easier said than done but you've just got to catch the ball.
"We need to be accountable to each other and if you get a ball thrown at you, you just need to catch it. It's as simple as that."
