NRL: McClennan hopes speed will overcome weakened Cowboys

Glen Fisiiahi will add some pace to the Warriors when they face the Cowboys on Sunday. Photo / NZPA

Raw speed replaces power as the Warriors' NRL season goes on the line against the depleted Cowboys on Sunday.

Needing a convincing win over a side devastated by State of Origin stand-downs, the Warriors will pair their two quickest players, Glen Fisiiahi and Kevin Locke, in their starting line-up for just the second time.

Fisiiahi, who has had two brief stints at fullback deputising for Locke this season, comes into the side on the wing in place of Omar Slaimankhel, the under-20s back who made his debut as a late replacement for Manu Vatuvei in the round 15 defeat by the Sharks.

Vatuvei is set to miss at least three more matches after knee surgery.

Hooker Nathan Friend returns after eight weeks out with a broken jaw, and prop Ben Matulino (sternum) and back rower Micheal Luck (knee) have been named to face a Cowboys side missing a host of stars.

With fullback Matt Bowen called up by Queensland as cover for Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston, and Matt Scott, Brent Tate and James Tamou also on Origin duty, the Cowboys will be a shadow of the side that has posted a 9-6 record to sit fifth on the NRL ladder. Bowen has been named by the Cowboys but a decision on whether he will play will be made later in the week, depending on how Slater fares.

The Warriors will be close to full strength, with Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati and prop Sam Rapira the only major absentees.

Fisiiahi's selection on the wing represents a change in approach for a Warriors club that has largely favoured big, powerful wings under Brian McClennan this season and Ivan Cleary last year. The 21-year-old speedster has been in devastating try-scoring form for the Vulcans in the NSW Cup this season, however his attempts to hold down a spot in the NRL side have been blighted by injury and inconsistent form.

He has played just two of his eight NRL matches on the wing - last year's season-opening defeat by the Eels at Eden Park and a heavy defeat by the Cowboys in Townsville in round 15.

Despite that lack of success so far and Locke's stranglehold on the fullback jersey, Fisiiahi is still viewed as a important part of the club's future.

"But if [Fisiiahi] goes out and plays a regular 80 minutes - and he can do that over the next few weeks - he has just got that pure speed," said McClennan.

WARRIORS

Mt Smart Stadium, 4pm Sunday

Kevin Locke
Bill Tupou
Ben Henry
Konrad Hurrell
Glen Fisiiahi
James Maloney
Shaun Johnson
Russell Packer
Nathan Friend
Ben Matulino
Lewis Brown
S. Mannering (c)
Elijah Taylor

Warriors: Jacob Lillyman, Micheal Luck, Sione Lousi, Feleti Mateo, Steve Rapira.

COWBOYS

Matthew Bowen
Ashley Graham
A. Winterstein
Kane Linnett
Kalifa Faifai Loa
Michael Morgan
Ray Thompson
Ashton Sims
Aaron Payne
Ricky Thorby
Gavin Cooper
Glenn Hall
Dallas Johnson

Cowboys: Joel Riethmuller, Scott Bolton Jason Taumalolo, Cory Paterson, Mosese Pangai.