League: Wiki back from suspension at vital time

Ruben Wiki

Ruben Wiki's return and Nathan Fien's move to standoff are major features of the Warriors side to play Penrith on Sunday.

After missing four matches through suspension, prop Wiki went head to head with his front-row team-mate and captain Steve Price in last Friday night's Anzac test in Brisbane.

Now Wiki and Price are set to be reunited for the Warriors for the first time since the 24-12 win against Brisbane on March 19.

"It was pleasing to see Ruben get through a lot of work in the test [including 30 tackles]," Warriors coach Tony Kemp said.

"He's bursting to get back into it and he couldn't be coming back at a more important time for us."

Fien started the team's first six matches at hooker this year but was moved to standoff at a critical time in their 30-26 win over Newcastle.

"Nathan has done an outstanding job for us at hooker but he gave us a lot of direction when we moved him to standoff in Newcastle so we're going to start him there on Sunday," Kemp said.

That means Kiwis test hooker Louis Anderson will wear the No 9 jersey while Jerome Ropati, a double tryscorer in his test debut against the Kangaroos, again starts at fullback. Brent Webb remains out of contention because of a back injury.

With Sione Faumuina due to miss two matches due to a knee injury, Kemp has been forced to reshuffle his back row combination.

Kiwis second-rower Wairangi Koopu moves to loose forward while Karl Temata, a front-row starter against the Knights, partners Awen Guttenbeil in the second row.

Props Iafeta Paleaaesina and Richard Villasanti will again come off the bench against Penrith, as will Epalahame Lauaki, who made a significant contribution as an impact player in the win over Newcastle.

After starring for Australia last Friday, Price was yesterday named in an initial 22-man Queensland squad for this year's first State of Origin match in Brisbane on May 25.

He finished the test on the bench with a hamstring injury but early indications suggest he will be fit to play against Penrith.

* Five players face NRL proceedings following Monday's fiery Anzac Day match between St George Illawarra and the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium.

The Roosters have been the hardest hit, with halfback Brett Finch receiving a grade one contrary conduct charge for his part in a brawl late in the match.

Finch appeared to be the third man to come into a fight and faces two weeks on the sidelines whether he accepts an early guilty plea or unsuccessfully fights the charge.

Team-mate Jason Cayless was charged with a grade-one dangerous throw following his 53rd-minute lifting tackle on Mathew Head, but will escape suspension if he takes the early plea.

Dragons props Jason Ryles and Justin Poore were also charged with grade-one dangerous throws for their part in the 72nd-minute tackle on Michael Crocker, which led to the fight for which Finch and Poore were both sinbinned. Ryles and Poore will be free to play this weekend if they plead guilty.

Dragons winger Wes Naiqama received a grade-two contrary conduct charge for his attempted trip on Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello.

He faces a two-week ban with either an early guilty plea or an unsuccessful trip to the judiciary.

* Ericsson Stadium, Sunday 2pm

NZ Warriors

Jerome Ropati, Francis Meli, Todd Byrne, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei, Nathan Fien, Stacey Jones, Ruben Wiki, Louis Anderson, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbeil, Karl Temata, Wairangi Koopu

Panthers

Rhys Wesser, Luke Lewis, Ben Pomeroy, Paul Franze, Luke Rooney, Preston Campbell, Craig Gower (c), Joel Clinton, Luke Priddis, Ben Ross, Joe Galuvao, Frank Pritchard, Trent Waterhouse

Interchange:

Warriors: Epalahame Lauaki, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Richard Villasanti, Lance Hohaia.

Panthers: Garret Crossman, Frank Puletua, Shane Rodney, Luke Swain, David McLean (one to be omitted).

- NZPA/AAP