By Dylan Doran
Brian McClennan has had a bitter-sweet start as new coach of the Warriors due to one of his star players getting injured in the pre-season hit out against the Gold Coast Titans.
Jacob Lillyman’s season is on hold after a big tackle tore his bicep off it’s tendon in the match that his team won 26-10 in Albany.
The four-quarter contest did not start well for the Warriors when they failed to defuse a high bomb from the Titans first possession.
They were not disappointed for long though as Shaun Johnson set up Konrad Hurrell, the Tongan winger making his Warriors debut in front of his family - and impressing his coach.
Both the Titans and Warriors were taking the match seriously, with Glen Fisiiahi copping a Ben Ridge shoulder at one point, but it was the visitors who were hurting as Fisiahi's replacement Lewis Brown scored with his first touch of the ball.
And with Johnson creating both of the Warriors tries it was only fitting he got one of his own in the 2nd quarter.
Up 14-6, the Warriors could not reel in two prime intercept opportunities, and while the Gold Coast were gifted an overlap they could not hold on to the ball, and Fisiiahi, back on the field, scooted off for a four pointer.
McLennan pulled most of his senior players at half-time, and the Warriors struggled in the 3rd spell - especially without Johnson - unable to score and conceding a soft try to Jamie Dowling.
The Warriors were kept scoreless until five minutes from the end when Bill Tupou made the most of another Titans' error.
The next pre-season trial for the team is against the Rabbitohs in Sydney.
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