Warriors coach Andrew Webster has shot down any talk of a prospective move for New Zealand international Matt Timoko, despite the club’s issues at centre.
Earlier this week, the Daily Telegraph reported that 26-year-old Timoko had been offered to the Warriors, only for the Kiwi club to instead concentrate itsefforts on signing Brisbane utility back Grant Anderson.
Anderson, 26, is understood to be the Warriors’ preferred player to exchange for Broncos-bound co-captain Mitch Barnett, who’ll leave New Zealand at the end of this NRL season.
This season, though, his involvement at NRL level has been restricted, first by injury and then through the form of Simi Sasagi, a second-rower playing out of position.
With a World Cup at the end of the year, Timoko would be forgiven for having itchy feet, wanting a first-grade spot to prove to Kiwis coach Stacey Jones that he should be part of the squad that will contend for the title.
Rocco Berry remains hampered by a shoulder injury, while Adam Pompey will miss the Warriors’ next two matches after picking up a ban for a dangerous tackle on Cronulla Sharks forward Briton Nikora.
Converted fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been named at centre to face the Melbourne Storm this weekend, but has also been battling a neck injury suffered against the Sharks.
By Webster’s admission, Ali Leiataua will come into the starting side after a stint in the New South Wales Cup side, while Leka Halasima could also shift from the second row if Nicoll-Klokstad doesn’t recover in time.
“We’ve got options who can play at centre,” Webster said. “We just have to wait and see this week how they all come up. Ali in the last two weeks in [New South Wales] Cup has done a great job.
“[Nicoll-Klokstad] got a neck injury, which has been cleared. But when you suffer something like that, the muscles around the neck seize up to protect your spine.
“He’s very sore at the moment, but safe. It’s not a risk of further injury, it’s just whether he can get mobile enough to get ready. There were signs today at training that he’s going to do that.
“If he doesn’t, we’ll just deal with it then, but at this stage, he’s a good chance.”
