League: Warriors ready to rumble into Nines

Coach Andrew McFadden likes his players' commitment. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Nine days out from the NRL Auckland Nines, fierce competition for a place in the Warriors' 18-man squad is lifting the intensity and physicality of their preseason training.

Both hooker Savili Havili and five-eighth Api Pewhairangi suffered minor knocks yesterday, as the wider NRL squad threw everything into some full contact defensive drills, before they were put through their paces and rotated in three experimental nines teams.

Coach Andrew McFadden is pleased with his players' commitment and enthusiasm but admits injuries could affect his final selections as he looks to cull his preliminary 22-man squad by next Wednesday.

"We are [happy]. We're training the players really hard at the moment so anything can happen between now and then," said McFadden.

"Injuries are a part of our sport. We never like to see them but we did have a couple today but they were only minor fortunately. That's just part of the training intensity. I'm still unsure of how it is all going to be finalised but we'll just wait and see."

While injuries are preventing McFadden from including Konrad Hurrell (wrist), Glen Fisiiahi (shoulder), and David Fusitu'a (shoulder) in the Nines, he remains hopeful the outside-back trio will return to action sooner rather than later. New recruit Jonathan Wright was initially named in the preliminary squad but has been ruled out because of an overhanging suspension for a dangerous throw which ended his 2014 season with Cronulla.

"We expect Konrad to be available for round one," he explained. "He's training well but obviously still overcoming that wrist surgery that he had but we're very happy with how he is going. He's probably ahead of schedule.

"Glen Fisiiahi will still be unavailable with his shoulder, but again, hopefully we get him early in the season. Dave Fusitu'a is probably a similar situation and Jonathan Wright won't be available for round one because he's still carrying out his suspension from last year."

Meanwhile, McFadden joined the chorus of frustrated coaches concerned at the lack of consultation from the NRL over a rule change which has tweaked the interpretation around the release of the tackled player.

The rule now requires all defenders to release the tackled player immediately, as the NRL looks to reduce the wrestling and stop defenders from turning the ball carrier on his back.

"I was a little disappointed because we had a coaches' meeting in early December and certainly nothing was finalised then. They had a rules committee meeting the next two days after that but we didn't get notification until December 23 and that was over Christmas, so I didn't get that until I got back into work. So if those other coaches knew, then they had a head start on everyone.

"We're going to have to wait and see how the referees interpret it before we get any gauge. We'll find out in some trials and we'll get the referees over for some of our opposed sessions as well to see exactly what they are looking for."

Attempts to quicken the speed of the ruck were welcomed by McFadden, although he doubted that wrestling could be completely removed from the game.

"I don't know how much they'll be able to take it out. So many clubs have done so much work on it. It's a part of the fabric of the game now. Sometimes these interpretations come in early in the season and they fade out by round three. We'll see what happens."