NRL: Covell charged with taming Vatuvei

One-test Kiwi Luke Covell has his work caught out for him on Saturday, marking up against Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei. Photo / Getty Images

SYDNEY - A senior employee at Cronulla these days, Luke Covell finds himself job-sharing now the National Rugby League (NRL) season is underway.

But the one-test Kiwi still has his work cut out as the Sharks attempt to end their worst-ever losing streak at the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday.

The Queensland-born wing, capped in the 0-58 flogging by the Kangaroos at Wellington in 2007, no longer has sole use of the kicking tee - a curious development considering his accuracy averages in the high 70 per cent.

He will share the goal kicking opportunities on Saturday with halfback Scott Porter depending on whether it favours a left-footed - Covell - or right footed kicker.

"We've had a kicking competition since Christmas on who was going to get first crack," Covell said before the team headed to Auckland.

"There wasn't a clear winner so we've broken the field into zones."

While converting tries and penalties has rarely been problematic since he recorded the first of his 898 points for the Sharks in 2005, Covell realises his ability to defuse bombs is going to be equally important when the Warriors seek to inflict an unprecedented 12th successive loss on a club trying to reinvent themselves after an ignominious 2009.

Warriors halves Brett Seymour and James Maloney were tactically aware against the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday - Manu Vatuvei and Kevin Locke both scored off cross kicks - leaving Covell and rookie first grader Isaac Gordon anticipating more of the same.

"We know from when Buster (Seymour) was with us that he has a pinpoint kicking game," Covell said.

"Hopefully we'll be good enough to take them."

Covell is also charged with curbing Vatuvei's impact on the ground as well as in the air.

Gordon - who debuted in the 10-14 loss to premiers Melbourne last weekend - regularly switched flanks with Covell during the pre-season.

However the 82kg junior is likely to mark up on a similarly lean Locke instead of having to cope with a rampaging Vatuvei.

"Sticky (coach Ricky Stuart) has been switching us depending on who we're playing against," said Covell, who could not recall ever marking the 112kg Kiwis wing.

Not that Vatuvei, now second-equal on the Warriors all-time try-scoring list on 60 with Francis Meli, has escaped Covell's notice: "When he's on, there's no doubt he's one of the hardest blokes in the game to tackle."

Although Cronulla's 2009 campaign was forgettable thanks to the resurfacing of group sex allegations on a trip to Christchurch in 2002, chief executive Tony Zappia's resignation after punching a female staff member and Seymour being sacked after a string of alcohol-fuelled incidents, Covell could at least hold his head high.

He amassed 134 points including eight tries, one behind centre Blake Ferguson's tally, despite being renowned for his lack of pace.

Still, the Sharks have not belted out their victory song since thrashing Brisbane 46-12 last June and only avoided the wooden spoon because North Queensland hammered the Roosters on the final day.

Covell admitted there were times when he wondered what else could conceivably go wrong.

"You had times when you think `what's going on?'," he said.

Covell acknowledged his and the other senior pros' responsibility to "make the place as positive as we can".

And it seems to be working: "There's a whole new feel in the club from the board to the junior reps ...everyone's excited about the year."

Two competition points will have everyone in the Shire feeling even better about life and encouragingly the 11-match losing sequence does not include the Warriors - the Sharks prevailed 18-10 in their only meeting last June before the rot set in.

- NZPA