NRL: Bit more fire in Warriors backline vital

Steve Price is back for the home game but the Warriors have struggled to ignite their powerful backline this year. Photo / Richard Robinson

The Warriors have Steve Price and Manu Vatuvei back for the home game against the Roosters on Sunday but the revolving door to the casualty ward has swung again with fullback Wade McKinnon ruled out.

Patrick Ah Van shifts to fullback and Aidan Kirk to the centre spot usually occupied by Brent Tate.

Ukuma Ta'ai is the man dropped for Price's return, Russell Packer shifting back to the bench.

The listing of Aaron Heremaia on the five-man interchange is the first sign the club is not happy with progress in the halves and the rotation at dummy-half.

Heremaia, 26, is a former Junior Kiwi and NZ Maori player who returned from England after stints with Halifax, Widnes and Leigh Centurions and before that played for North Sydney under former Kiwis halfback Gary Freeman, earning that club's supporters' award. He shone for the Auckland Vulcans last season and after training with the top side in pre-season this year was signed by the NRL club.

A five-eighth who also plays hooker, he has a long field kick and can kick goals.

The Warriors have struggled to ignite their powerful backline this year. The best example is right wing Denan Kemp who scored 19 times for Brisbane last season but has yet to see clear space let alone a touchdown in five games for the Auckland side.

Heremaia was used in the pre-season trials and was included for Manly but didn't play, an indication he was being prepared for debut in the premiership. It would make no sense to have two halfback/hookers on the bench so if, and when, Heremaia gets a run it will be at the expense of either Nathan Fien or Stacey Jones. The other option is to replace Joel Moon.

Bar Jones' cameo to win the game against Manly, none of the three has provided a consistent threat. Fien's form may be affected by the uncertainty of his future with the club, the three-year deal he has on offer with Huddersfield looking unlikely. Jones looks fit but short of the micro-second timing that splits defences. Moon has been in and out, the kicking game erratic. Too often, it has been the area of breakdown and turnover or easily read by the opposition.

The Roosters backs have been profiting from the good form shown by their halfback Mitchell Pearce, son of Tigers legend Wayne, and Braith Anasta at five-eighth. Anasta leads their try-scoring with five and Kiwis wing Shaun Kenny-Dowall four, Kiwis fullback/wing Sam Perrett, centre Mitchell Aubusson and Pearce have two each.

The only Warriors backs with two tries this season are Lance Hohaia, Tate and McKinnon, none of whom are playing at the weekend.

McKinnon's hamstring injury isn't expected to keep him out for long. They miss Hohaia's spark and acceleration in traffic when he comes off the bench. The return of Vatuvei's bulk offers strike power out wide but they must put the ball there and the Roosters will be focused on intercepting that as other teams have done.

The Roosters have named Mitchell Aubusson at centre despite him leaving the field during the 28-24 loss to Brisbane last Friday after suffering back spasms. Iosaia Soliola is the likely replacement if Aubusson is not fit, the Kiwis centre coming back after three weeks out with a broken eye socket.

The Auckland Vulcans play the Newtown Jets at Walter Massey Park in Mangere at 1pm on Saturday.

Warriors
Patrick Ah Van, Denan Kemp, Aidan Kirk, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Joel Moon, Stacey Jones, Sam Rapira, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Nathan Fien, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Aaron Heremaia (one to be omitted)

Roosters
Sam Perrett, Sisa Waqa, Mitchell Aubusson, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Mark O'Meley, James Aubusson, Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Nate Myles, Craig Fitzgibbon, Shane Shackleton.

Interchange: Lopini Paea, Willie Mason, Sia Soliola, Jake Friend, Ben Jones (one to be omitted)