Warriors Take Advantage of Penrith's Predicament
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
INSIDE: Daggy boy SuperSport B9 Sports Editor: Kevin Tutty Contact: [email protected] 03 943 2752 THE PRESS, CHRISTCHURCH Monday, May 2, 2011 B10 RUGBY LEAGUE Canty club hails first Kiwis rep Tony Smith and Steve Kilgallon understands the likely 18th and from the bench. It’s likely veteran 19th men are Brown and Beale. Lance Hohaia will hold off Beale’s Canterbury’s Northern Bulldogs Australian-born Beale, 20, challenge for the fullback spot. rugby league club can celebrate played for the Junior Kangaroos ‘‘We’re excited about the group their first ‘‘home’’ grown Kiwi last year but has switched of players we’ve been able to bring with Melbourne Storm wing Matt allegiance and has shone for together and it’s a real thrill to Duffie’s naming in the Anzac test Brisbane this season since slotting have two new players in the squad squad for Friday night’s match in at fullback after an injury to in Matt (Duffie) and Gerard against Australia on the Gold Josh Hoffman. A cousin of former (Beale),’’ said Kiwis coach Steve Coast. All Black Zinzan Brooke, he had Kearney. ‘‘While we’ve had some The 20-year-old Auckland-born played just one first grade game success against Australia in the back had two seasons in the junior before this season after breaking last few years, we haven’t done grades for the-then Kaiapoi his arm last year. well in the Anzac test. The Bulldogs as a teenager when his Manly halfback Kieran Foran challenge for us is to prepare family moved to Christchurch on a has overcome a calf problem really well to give ourselves a job transfer. sustained in club football on chance of competing with them.’’ Duffie told The Press last month Saturday to claim the No 7 jersey The Kiwis assembled on the he regarded himself as a dual for the Kiwi side. Gold Coast last night and were due product of the Bulldogs and But the Kiwis have lost prop to have their first training run at Pakuranga Jaguars (Auckland Roy Asotasi, who was ruled out Burleigh this afternoon after a clubs). with a broken wrist and has been morning photo call. Bulldogs stalwart Russell replaced by Greg Eastwood. Meanwhile, youngsters Jharal Tuuta, a former New Zealand Foran toured England with Yow Yeh and Jamal Idris have Residents forward who was Duf- New Zealand in 2009 with props been selected to debut for Aust- fie’s coach, said last night as far as Sam Rapira and Fuifui Moimoi, ralia. he knew the Storm man was the who all missed the 2010 Four Brisbane wing Yow Yeh, 21, first Bulldogs junior to make a full Nations triumph but earn recalls. continued his meteoric rise when Kiwis side. Thirteen of that champion side he claimed a starting berth in the Duffie, Brisbane Broncos full- from last year are retained, with 17-man squad featuring 11 other back Gerard Beale and Warriors Frank Paul Nuuausala dropped Queenslanders. utility Lewis Brown – a former after indifferent form, Thomas Bulldogs centre Idris was Canterbury Bulls representative – Leuluai not flown back from picked on the bench for the match are the only players in the 19-man England and Sika Manu and Sam at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast squad yet to win a test cap. Brown Perrett injured. after it was transferred from has previously made a Kiwi test Foran is likely to pair with Christchurch following the Febru- squad but may be frustrated again. Benji Marshall in the halves, with ary 22 earthquake. Last night, Kiwi selectors regular Kiwis scrumhalf Nathan named a 19-man squad but not a Fien playing in his club position of ❯❯ starting lineup, and Fairfax hooker and Issac Luke coming Club report B8 Warriors take advantage of Penrith’s predicament Steve Kilgallon A swirling wind ensured it was no classic, but the Warriors emerged with their fourth win in five games against a dismal Penrith yester- day. Two opportunist tries from wing Kevin Locke and a con- trolled, smart performance was enough for the Warriors, who were much more comfortable victors than their 14-point margin suggested. This was not, they felt, of the quality they produced in winning away at Melbourne a week ago, but it was enough to overcome a Penrith side who were sloppy at the ruck and clearly affected by their ongoing coaching dramas. ‘‘Any time you get four out of five, you’re pretty happy,’’ said Warriors coach Ivan Cleary. ‘‘Obviously, when we were 0-3 [after three rounds], we were looking from the bottom up and it was important we sorted things out. ‘‘We hit the heights in lots of areas last week. Today wasn’t as good, but it was good enough.’’ Skipper Simon Mannering had a similar view: ‘‘There were definitely massive improvements last week, and probably not as much this week. It was a bit of an ugly win, but at the start of the Power play: Warriors utility Lance Hohaia tries to bust the Penrith defence at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium yesterday. Hohaia year when we played ugly, we has made the Kiwis squad for the Anzac test on Friday. Photo: SHANE WENZLICK didn’t win. There’s still things to work on.’’ could see him demoted again. SCORERS underwent hand surgery following The sides were 6-6 at the break, ‘‘I’ve been trying to do my best an injury suffered in Friday Locke’s first matched, despite if I get put back to the Vulcans Warriors 26 (K Locke 2, L Hohaia, night’s victory over Cronulla. heated Warriors protests, by Tim [reserves], then that’s life.’’ K Inu tries; J Maloney 5 goals) bt X-rays and an MRI scan Grant for the Panthers, in a first Krisnan Inu and the impressive Penrith 18 (T Grant, N Seluini, T determined Asotasi had dislocated half that Penrith skipper Petero Lance Hohaia followed Locke over, Waterhouse tries; M Gordon 3 bones in his hand that make up the Civoneciva called a ‘‘genuine arm with Penrith’s late flurry of tries goals). wrist, and an operation was wrestle’’. from Trent Waterhouse and for- required to repair the damage. But the Warriors dominated the mer Warriors junior Nafe Seluini The operation has already been second spell, with Locke – who was irrelevant. if we wanted, but that would be completed, and the early diagnosis in reserve grade a fortnight ago – The Panthers were left just making it an excuse,’’ said is Asotasi will be sidelined until at scoring a vital 80-metre intercep- lamenting a display their players Civoneciva. least the final round of the regular tion two minutes after the break. said had nothing to do with ❏ South Sydney’s injury crisis in season, in a crushing blow for the ‘‘I’m definitely happy to be back Matthew Elliott’s midweek sack- the front row has deepened with injury-depleted club. on the field and part of the boys ing and Tim Sheens’ refusal to captain Roy Asotasi ruled out of again,’’ said Locke, who knows replace him. NRL action for four months. ❯❯ Manu Vatuvei’s impending return ‘‘We could make it a distraction Former Kiwi captain Asotasi Results B7.