Luck back for finals clash against Titans
Loose forward Micheal Luck returns in the only change to the starting line-up for the Vodafone Warriors’ week one NRL finals clash against Gold Coast at Skilled Park on Friday night.
The 28-year-old 193-game veteran missed the back-to-back wins against Brisbane and Parramatta after being sidelined with an ugly cut in his left thigh in the 24th-round encounter with Manly.
But today coach Ivan Cleary confirmed the Queenslander would be back to take on Gold Coast.
“Everyone knows how tough Lucky is and we’re certainly glad to have him back in the side,” he said.
“Being the sort of person he is, he wanted to play last week but it wasn’t possible.
“His cut has healed really well, he’s been putting in the work and he’s ready to go against the Titans.”
Luck’s return results in stand-in loose forward Jacob Lillyman reverting to his interchange role as a front rower. Also named on the bench is hooker Alehana Mara, Ben Matulino and Ukuma Ta’ai along with Jesse Royal and Joel Moon.
“Jake deserves a lot of credit for the job he did filling Lucky’s role against the Broncos and the Eels. He was terrific in those two games.”
The Vodafone Warriors qualified for the post-season as the fifth-ranked side after a 14 wins-10 losses record in the regular season, the club’s best output since 2003. It’s the third time in the last four seasons the Vodafone Warriors have reached the playoffs and the sixth time since 2001.
The squad leaves for Queensland tomorrow morning for the first qualifying final against a Gold Coast side which has twice edged the Vodafone Warriors this season, 24-18 in the opening round of the campaign at Skilled Park in March and 28-20 at Mount Smart Stadium on August 1.
“We hung in with them both times but were a bit off both times in some areas of our game,” said Cleary.
“You can’t afford to be down in any part of your game at any time let alone in the finals, especially not against a side like the Titans who make it so difficult for you.
“We’ve shown a lot of improvement in the second half of the season, as we needed to, but it’s a whole lot different now. We’re up against a side which is well served at hooker, in the halves and at fullback. They know how to control tight games and we’ll have to work really hard to stay with them.
“It’s been a great week for us winning the Club Championship Trophy. That’s an achievement we’re all proud of but now we have to put that behind us and switch on to finals football.”
Friday night’s match will herald a milestone in prop Russell Packer’s career. Still only 20, he’ll make his 50th NRL appearance since making his debut in 2008. Lillyman will edge close to his 100th by making his 98th appearance.
Winger Manu Vatuvei needs one try to claim the club’s all-time try-scoring record outright. His 77th career try last weekend drew him level with Stacey Jones’ mark and he also equalled Sean Hoppe’s regular season record of 19 tries (Vatuvei snaring his 19 in just 18 games).
VODAFONE WARRIORS v GOLD COAST TITANS
Skilled Park, Robina
7.45pm, Friday, September 10
VODAFONE WARRIORS
1 LANCE HOHAIA
2 KEVIN LOCKE
3 BRENT TATE
4 JEROME ROPATI
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 JAMES MALONEY
7 BRETT SEYMOUR
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 AARON HEREMAIA
10 RUSSELL PACKER
11 SIMON MANNERING (c)
12 LEWIS BROWN
13 MICHEAL LUCK
Interchange:
14 ALEHANA MARA
15 BEN MATULINO
16 UKUMA TA’AI
17 JACOB LILLYMAN
JESSE ROYAL
JOEL MOON
COACH: IVAN CLEARY