NRL: Luke to make Warriors debut

Issac Luke during training at Mt Smart Stadium. Photo / Dean Purcell

New signing Issac Luke, veteran wing Manu Vatuvei and second rower Ben Henry headline the Warriors' squad for Saturday's NRL trial against Gold Coast at Whangarei's Toll Stadium.

After missing the NRL Nines, Kiwi hooker Luke will be making his first appearance for the club since being signed from South Sydney.

Vatuvei has already had a huge week, with wife Jennifer giving birth to the couple's fourth daughter yesterday, and on Saturday he'll make his return from off-season shoulder surgery.

Also making a comeback will be second rower Henry, who missed almost all of the 2015 season after his second serious knee injury in two years.

Four players from the Warriors' Nines squad will face the Titans, with Ken Maumalo on the wing, Ata Hingano at standoff and Albert Vete and Charlie Gubb in the front row.

Two other new signings - Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Ligi Sao - are also included. Nicoll-Klokstad, signed from Melbourne, is set to start in the centres and Sao, who has returned to the club after three seasons with Manly, is at loose forward.

Other 2015 first-graders named are Matt Allwood in the centres and Raymond Faitala-Mariner in the second row. A number of Junior Warriors have also been picked, including Erin Clark at halfback.

Among those on the bench is former Canterbury-Bankstown, Wests Tigers and Brisbane prop James Gavet, who has been on trial with the Warriors in the off-season.

Warriors team to play Gold Coast at Toll Stadium in Whangarei on Saturday:

Tomas Aoake
Ken Maumalo
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
Matt Allwood
Manu Vatuvei
Ata Hingano
Erin Clark
Albert Vete
Issac Luke
Charlie Gubb
Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Ben Henry
Ligi Sao

Interchange:
Viliami Kaveinga
James Gavet
Upu Poching
Jazz Tevaga
Bunty Afoa
Marata Niukore
Kane Telea
Semisi Tyrell