League: Warriors take warm-up trip to Australia

The Warriors take 22 players to Australia today for a two-week camp in which they will hone their skills ahead of the season-opener at Ericsson Stadium on March 12.

It's expected that coach Ivan Cleary will run his top side in the second of two pre-season trials in Australia.

First, they play the 2005 grand final losers, the North Queensland Cowboys, in the heat and humidity of Cairns on Saturday. Then next weekend it is the Bulldogs at Cararra Stadium on the Gold Coast as the NRL promotes the game there ahead of the entry of the sixteenth team next year.

Sione Faumuina (shoulder) and Jerome Ropati (groin) were injured in the first outing against Canberra last Sunday. Both are healing well, as is Brent Webb, who hurt his leg.

There are five players who were left out of the 22 going to Cairns because of minor niggles: Simon Mannering (shin), George Gatis (foot), Sonny Fai (shoulder), Misi Taulapapa (foot) and Richard Villasanti (knee). They will fly to Brisbane on Monday next week with the Warriors development squad, who will get much-needed exposure against the Ipswich Jets and Cudgen Hornets.

The Warriors start the season in good condition injury-wise, unlike 2004, though some of those in recovery will probably not start or at least will play a limited part in Cairns.

Joining the top side are fullback Patrick Ah Van from Mt Albert and 2005 Junior Kiwis captain Sam Rapira at prop, both 18, as well as 30-year-old front rower George Tuakura.

The choice of the first-up starting side looks fairly clear-cut for Cleary.

Established players from Webb at fullback to captain and vice-captain Steve Price and Ruben Wiki up front will all be certainties. Cleary has already declared his preferences in the halves and at hooker.

A side to play the Bulldogs and then the Storm in round one of the NRL may look like this: Brent Webb, Todd Byrne, Tony Martin, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvai, Sione Faumuina, Nathan Fien, Steve Price, Lance Hohaia, Ruben Wiki, Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu, Louis Anderson; George Tuakura, Michael Luck, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli.

The variation may come on the bench in games after that. Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Richard Villasanti and Simon Mannering should all be pressing for starts. And Cleary will have to make decisions on how to fill the injury holes that occur during a tough 26-round competition.

The Cowboys have named a side close to the one that lost the 2005 grand final to the Tigers for Saturday's game. Missing are Kiwi prop Paul Rauhihi, who has gone to Warrington, forwards Steve Southern and Shane Tronc, and centre Josh Hannay.

Cleary said he would name his starting combination and extended bench closer to game-time. The Cairns match will be played in four 20-minute sessions.

The Bulldogs game is to be two 40-minute halves.

Warriors v Cowboys

Warriors top-22: Brent Webb, Patrick Ah Van, Todd Byrne, Manu Vatuvei, Cooper Vuna, Clinton Toopi, Tony Martin, Jerome Ropati,t Sione Faumuina, Nathan Fien, Grant Rovelli, Steve Price (captain), Ruben Wiki (vice-captain), Evarn Tuimavave, George Tuakura, Sam Rapira, Lance Hohaia, Awen Guttenbeil, Wairangi Koopu, Michael Luck, Epalahame Lauaki, Louis Anderson.

North Queensland Cowboys: Matt Bowen, Brenton Bowen, Ty Williams, Paul Bowman, Matt Sing, Johnathan Thurston, Brett Firman, Matthew Scott, Aaron Payne, Mitchell Sargent, Luke O'Donnell, Jacob Lillyman, Travis Norton (c); interchange Russell Aitken, Justin Smith, David Faiumu, Gavin Cooper, Robert Tanielu, Rod Jensen, Ray Cashmere.

Referee: Paul Simpkins.