NRL: Warriors intent on muzzling rabid dogs

Tonight we'll find out a lot more about the 2010 Warriors.

Was last week's encouraging but ultimately unsuccessful opener against the Titans a case of a team playing above itself in a hyped-up season opener, or was the inexorable slide to defeat after a brace of first half clock-offs indicative of what is to come?

Can the Warriors find some space for their outstanding wingers? Or will it be another season where bombs away and all the best Big Manu becomes the default method of getting the ball over the chalk?

All questions to which a determined but limited Sharks side should help provide the answers.

Last week's defeat by premiers Melbourne took the Sharks' losing streak to seven matches. It is a run they will be desperate to break, just as the Warriors will be desperate to perform in a home opener that launches the Simon Mannering era.

"They are just rabid dogs," was Warriors coach Ivan Cleary's assessment of the Sharks.

"They are at you all the time, they are extremely competitive. And they are more than that as well. They have got some really good players. They took Melbourne all the way last week and they'll be really charged up to get their first win also."

Mannering's return from a lengthy hamstring injury is a boost for a Warriors side that knows last Sunday's defeat by the Titans was an opportunity lost.

Fullback Wade McKinnon's return, albeit to the bench, is also a big plus. But the Warriors won't be complete until veteran prop Steve Price's metre-gobbling game is back in their arsenal.

Price is back in full training and could be a week away.

"Certainly we have got a bit of experience and a bit of firepower to come back in but, in the meantime, it is a good chance for these young guys to get some experience and I'm sure they'll be better for it," Cleary said.

New Warriors playmaker Brett Seymour's first match against the club that sacked him last year provides an interesting subplot, but not one the player was getting carried away with, Cleary said. "It's always nice to play against your old club but he is just having fun playing football."

Cleary was happy enough with last week's first-up outing despite the disappointing nature of the 24-18 defeat.

"To a man, the effort was certainly there. It was just a five-minute period where we got a little bit comfortable at 18-6 just before halftime. You just can't do that in the NRL.

"The confidence is still pretty high and for some of those young guys who played on the weekend it was a good step for them."

As well as the effort of a young pack, Cleary largely liked what he saw from new halves Seymour and James Maloney. Both laid on tries with kicks, while Maloney tackled hard and came close to finishing off the Warriors' best attack before losing possession.

As well as better ball control, Cleary hopes his players demonstrate a better understanding of the ebb and flow of the game tonight. "When you get the opportunity to really ram it home you have to and I think we probably failed to do that in that first half last week."

Mt Smart Stadium, 7.30 tonight

WARRIORS
Lance Hohaia
Kevin Locke
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
James Maloney
Brett Seymour
Sam Rapira
Aaron Heremaia
Russell Packer
Lewis Brown
S Mannering (c)
Micheal Luck

SHARKS
Nathan Stapleton
Isaac Gordon
Ben Pomeroy
Blake Ferguson
Luke Covell
Trent Barrett (c)
Scott Porter
Kade Snowden
John Morris
Luke Douglas
Grant Millington
Anthony Tupou
Paul Gallen

Warriors: Wade McKinnon, Jeremy Latimore, Jesse Royal, Ben Matulino, Joel Moon (one to be omitted)

Sharks: Adam Cuthbertson, Josh Cordoba, Albert Kelly, Paul Aiton, Broderick Wright (one to be omitted)