NRL: Issac Luke back to start for Warriors

NZ Warriors hooker Issac Luke. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

After being unwanted a few weeks ago, circumstances have put Issac Luke back on top of the heap.

Luke, who has spent time in reserve grade this year, comes into the starting line to replace injured hooker Karl Lawton for the Warriors' clash against the Broncos on Saturday (7.30 NZT).

Lawton left the field with a shoulder complaint after just 14 minutes of Saturday night's clash against Newcastle, Luke playing the last 66 minutes as the Warriors eventually won 24-20.

Lawton's injury is still being assessed while fellow hooker Nate Roache is side-lined for the season after suffering an ACL injury in the golden point loss to Penrith on June 30.

In his 265th career appearance last Saturday, Luke kicked four goals from five attempts and made 54 metres from seven runs as well as 24 tackles.

The 32-year-old has made just nine starts this year, as coach Stephen Kearney has preferred Lawton and Roache at times.

But the long time Kiwis hooker has always responded well to any demotion, and still has the best all round game of any No 9 option at the club, especially with his kicking game.

Jazz Tevaga will provide the back up dummy half option.

He's named at loose forward following another busy outing last Saturday, with 114 metres from 11 runs plus 39 tackles.

Another feature of the team is the return of Chanel Harris-Tavita to the 17, for the first time since the round eight match with Newcastle in early May.

It will be his sixth NRL appearance, since playing five times earlier in the season.

The rest of the starting combination to face Brisbane is unchanged, Gerard Beale again in the centres with Patrick Herbert still unavailable with a hamstring injury.

Warriors wing Ken Maumalo goes into the match sitting joint top of the NRL's try-scoring chart with 12 touchdowns in 15 appearances. He ought to have the outright lead with 13 tries after being denied his first career hat-trick by a bunker decision which was officially confirmed as being incorrect on Monday.

Maumalo finished the match with 240 metres from 22 runs including 82 post-contact metres.

He leads all players for the most-contact metres with 929, well ahead of second-ranked Knights prop David Klemmer on 789.

Maumalo and captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck lead all players for most runs and most metres gained so far.

Maumalo has 290 runs, Tuivasa-Sheck 279 while Maumalo has made 2829 metres in 15 games (an average of 189 metres a game) and Tuivasa-Sheck 2645 in 14 matches (also an average of 189 metres).

Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
7.30pm, Saturday, July 13, 2019
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Warriors

1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (C)
2 David Fusitu'a
3 Peta Hiku
4 Gerard Beale
5 Ken Maumalo
6 Kodi Nikorima
7 Blake Green
8 Agnastius Paasi
9 Issac Luke
10 Leeson Ah Mau
11 Adam Blair
12 Isaiah Papali'i
13 Jazz Tevaga
Interchange:
14 Lachlan Burr
15 Sam Lisone
16 Bunty Afoa
17 Chanel Harris-Tavita
(Four to be omitted)