League: Warriors' rookies short on experience, long on talent

Ukuma Ta'ai (left) and Jesse Royal have been thrown into the Warriors mix. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The two new players thrown into the Warriors mix for the game against Manly this weekend do not have a long pedigree in the game.

Prop Jesse Royal started in basketball because he was too tall and skinny for league and kept getting KOd while playing for the Turangawaewae club in Huntly.

Bench back rower Ukuma Ta'ai has not long been in Auckland from Tonga where he played rugby, switching to the Mt Albert Lions after shifting here with his parents.

He has played 21 games for them and three for the Auckland Vulcans, in two pre-season matches for the Warriors against the Cowboys and Titans - just 26 league matches all-up. "Yes, he's green in terms of football but he's been training very well, he picks things up very quickly," said Warriors coach Ivan Cleary. "He's a prospect - he has plenty of talent."

Ta'ai went to Mt Albert training pre-season in 2008 with a cousin and two mates and was immediately chosen in coach Brent Gemmell's top team in what was a champion squad. He developed a good understanding with half Steve Buckingham and was a regular try-scorer.

"He has very solid defence. He's a very clean player, hard but no punching or fighting or other dirt and I don't think he gave away a penalty," said Lions chairman Bill Werry. "He's a great support player. He's good on his feet and he's good with the ball. He had a rugby tendency to force the pass under pressure but that's been ironed out of his game."

Mt Albert told the Warriors about Ta'ai and the Warriors went out to see him and signed him straight away. He was quickly elevated into the Auckland Vulcans but at the end of the season that became a problem, because appearances for them meant he did not meet the eligibility rule for players in the Fox Memorial final who must play the majority of the last seven rounds. He watched, very disappointed, as teammates beat Otahuhu and then he showered and dressed in team gear with them for the after-match.

Werry identifies one problem with Ta'ai, who is still learning English. "He needs to talk more on the field, communication is not his forte and he's so shy he's certainly not the type of bloke to yell at someone else."

Royal was a cook in the NZ Army from 1999-2003 and after bulking up he went back to league with the Central Falcons in the Bartercard Cup, from where he was talent-spotted by the Penrith Panthers. He signed for them in 2004 and played in the New South Wales league competition in Sydney and from there earned a two-year contract with the Newcastle Knights.

Two more years in NSWRL followed and although unable to break into top grade he did get another two-year contract. He made his NRL debut in round 7 2007 and played 29 games for the club before being released as new coach Brian Smith adjusted the roster.

Royal was resigned to playing club footy for the Kurri Kurri club and had set his mind to a job in the Hunter Valley coal mines. The Warriors came knocking after regular bench prop Evarn Tuimavave suffered a neck injury they knew would keep him out for the start of the season and he and wife Kylie and their two children came home.

ROOKIES:

Jesse Royal

* Born March 27, 1980 Waikato
* Bartercard Cup for Central Falcons 2003
* Signed for Penrith Panthers 2004 and played NSWRL competition.
* Signed with Newcastle Knights 2005 for two years, extended two years to 2008, 29 NRL games
* Joined the Warriors February 2009 on a one-year contract, club debut v Manly tomorrow

Ukuma Ta'ai

* Born January 17, 1987 Tonga
* 187cm 103kg backrower
* Mt Albert Lions 2008
* Warriors' development programme 2008-09
* NRL debut v Manly tomorrow