By Sam Ackerman
The Warriors have spent a relaxing day at the Titirangi golf course, but only two weeks out from their season opener, the fallout from a tough pre-season was clear to see.
Their charity golf days have always been one of the Warriors’ favourite events, but it couldn’t be a much crueller activity for the busted arm brigade; swinging a club near the top of Jacob Lillyman’s ‘no-go’ list.
The Origin prop will be restricted to drinks duty until Round 8, meanwhile Michael Luck is out until Round 10 after his second dose of wrist surgery.
“Not trying to rush things,” he says.
“The first time it didn’t work; maybe I was doing too much too soon. The thing for me now is patience – which is not my greatest asset.”
The active roster only have 13 days to be patient until their season opener at Eden Park.
But there is no easy ride from Coach Brian McClennan between now and then.
“Some intense sessions in terms of contact and getting as game-like as we possibly can,” he says.
It won’t be as sapping as rivals Manly’s lead in – returning from their unsuccessful World Cup challenge in the UK before flying to Auckland next week.
“The flight going over there, it’s pretty hard to do and to come back and get back into training and prepare for Round 1,” says Warriors backrower Feleti Mateo.
“Hopefully they’re more sluggish than usual.”
McClennan is not giving anything away on who will front up against the Sea Eagles.
“You’ll just have to wait until we get a little bit closer to Round 1 to see what the Warriors line up is,” he says.
We know Luck won’t be in it, but the new dad is using his one good arm to prepare as best he can.
“Even picking up the little bloke – I’ve got to go in and scoop him one hand, getting plenty of good practice in holding things with my right hand, so hopefully I don’t drop the ball this year when I do come back,” he says.
For the Warriors, belting golf balls is soon set to be replaced by belting the opposition.
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