NRL: Warriors have a big hit out against Manly

Try-scorer Ben Matulino looks to evade Manly's defensive cover during their pre-season match yesterday. Photo / Getty Images

Manly prop Jason King did his best to try to knock a few Warriors around in his interpretation of the earthquake relief match but coach Ivan Cleary should have a fully fit squad to choose from for their NRL season opener against Parramatta in a fortnight.

King put a massive shoulder charge on Micheal Luck, which flattened the Warriors lock. He had to be helped from the field and didn't return. King had been looking to put a big shot on someone throughout the game and Luck was the, ahem, unlucky one.

It was debatable whether it was legal and King was put on report but Luck later pronounced himself "sweet" as he went out to sign autographs for some of the 14,000-strong crowd who flocked to North Harbour Stadium.

He might feel a bit dazed this morning but Cleary will have a headache of a different kind as he ponders the make-up of his side to take on the Eels at Eden Park in a fortnight.

The Warriors might have lost last night, on the back of a draw and two wins in their other pre-season matches, but the team which ended the game hardly resembled the one that started.

Cleary opted for a strong starting side, minus Manu Vatuvei (thigh) and Sam Rapira (wrist). They showed enough in the first 60 minutes before myriad changes were made to suggest they will be competitive again this season. They had good shape in both attack and defence without revealing too much close to the line.

Cleary has decisions to make right across the park, most notably at wing, in the halves, second row and hooker. It's a squad with considerable depth but with few 'stars' and the conclusion many left with last night is that the match against Manly didn't answer many questions.

Krisnan Inu continues to be an enigma. He is a freakish talent and can do some wonderful things - but he can also make dreadful mistakes and was at fault for three errors last night. He can look like he's not even trying, or doesn't even care, but can suddenly burst into life.

Whether that's enough to convince Cleary he deserves a spot or Kevin Locke joins Vatuvei on the wings, only Cleary knows. How he will utilise Mateo also isn't clear. He was one of the Warriors' best last night, laying on a try for Locke and nearly setting up another, but Cleary is blessed with plenty of contenders for the back row. He could use Mateo as a ball-playing second-rower or move him into the halves where he can control the game even more.

Cleary is conservative by nature and isn't expected to spring too many selection surprises. It didn't mean he was giving much away last night.

"I don't think [we have ever had such a competitive squad in my time as coach]. Part of that is that most of the guys have done the pre-season and played the trials. Even the rep guys, look pretty fresh, too.

"But, in saying that, we're not quite ready. There are a couple of areas there to improve before the season starts - goal-line defence and we made too many errors towards the end of the game. On the balance of the game, we probably had the better chances. They probably just wanted it a bit more today."

It was certainly willing and many of the Warriors sought retribution on the Manly prop for his King hit.

"That was really good, I thought," Cleary said about the physicality of the match. "It's exactly what you need leading into the games. It's certainly going to be willing in a couple of weeks. It didn't hurt."

He wasn't the one on the receiving end.

* Warriors 12 (B. Matulino, K. Locke tries; J. Maloney 2 gls)

* Sea Eagles 14 (J. Buhrer, M. Oldfield, V. Mauro tries; D. Cherry-Evans gl).

* HT: 6-4.