KEY POINTS:
New Zealand Warriors utility Jerome Ropati is delighted to be back at five-eighth after a rusty return to top-level rugby league last week.
Having his first National Rugby League (NRL) match this season after back and hamstring injuries, Ropati came off the bench to play hooker and then fullback in the Warriors' 20-22 loss to the Sharks in Auckland.
This week coach Ivan Cleary has selected Ropati at five-eighth for the match against the Knights in Newcastle tomorrow following the suspension handed out to Michael Witt after the Sharks match.
Ropati was the first-choice five-eighth for the Warriors last season but his injury allowed newcomer Witt into the position, where he has performed with distinction, but this week the luck has gone Ropati's way.
"I think Michael Witt has had an incredible run at number six," Ropati said.
"He's offered quite a lot. It's too bad he's on the sideline this week."
Ropati said he was fairly pleased with his efforts at hooker against the Sharks but not so pleased about his time at fullback, where he lost the ball twice inside his own half.
"I haven't played fullback much, not since I think back in early 2005, but in saying that the errors I made against the Sharks were fundamental and really can be cleaned up," he said.
"I'm looking forward to getting my chance back at the position I played last year, which comes naturally to me."
Although he has had limited time on the field this year, Ropati said his experience and the team's culture should make it relatively easy to fit back into the side.
"Ivan has created a system in our club where every player gets a chance to play at every position that they're trained to play at," he said.
"Coming back into the team everyone's just used to you, everyone knows at training how you play and what plays work well for you.
"Because we know each other so well our combinations need a bit of tweaking but not that much."
Ropati said he came through last week's match in good physical shape and was ready to play a full 80 minutes against the Knights, who he expected to provide strong opposition.
"Playing without (retired) Andrew Johns they're a new team, full of enthusiasm and Jarrod Mullen's playing out of his skin.
"It's a very hard place to play at with a very vocal crowd, I think that's what gets them home most of the time.
"It'll be a challenge for us but we've had a good record up there.
"If we can keep our heads straight and focus on what we're doing hopefully we can come out on top."
Cleary said he would have preferred to be picking Ropati when a full-strength team were available but he was sure the Kiwis international would play well.
"Ideally you'd like to have everyone on deck and pick the side that's best suited but Jerome's a quality five-eighth," Cleary said.
"He's had a couple of games now, one in the NRL, one for the (Auckland) Lions, and he's now got an opportunity to play in the position he's most comfortable in."
Cleary said the Warriors needed to get the basics right, such as holding on to the ball and not give away penalties, something Ropati agreed with.
"If we can clean those up we get more ball, we tackle less and that's the way we love it and we can come out on top."
- NZPA
