By Greg Pearson
The Warriors continue their pre-season in Sydney tonight against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and after the loss of prop Jacob Lillyman to injury last week attention will be on who can step up in the front row.
With Lillyman out for three months, young props Russell Packer and Ben Matulino, along with fellow kiwi Sam Rapira, are likely to be joined by some new faces in the front row.
“From the other boys in the squad we’ve got the calibre of players to step up and fill the void there – it’s exciting, it’s an opportunity for someone else to step up and make the most of it,” says Russell Packer.
And it is that kind of opportunity that helped Packer and Matulino make an impact in the NRL, with the Warriors front row hampered by injuries over the past few seasons.
“Me and Russ found ourselves in the same situation in the past few years and handled it pretty well, and the other boy that might come in will do the same job as us so it’s all good,” says Ben Matulino.
And when Lillyman does return to full fitness, it will leave coach Brian ‘Bluey’ McClennan spoilt for front row choices.
“Last week we had Sam Rapira and Sione Louisi that did good jobs at prop, so they’ll put their hands up and they’re fighting for positions, and that’s want we want, a nice healthy competition for positions and I think we’ve got that,” says McClennan.
Hopefully that can all help the club go even better than last season.
“I think we have to leave what we achieved last year behind us and focus on what we’ve got this year. No-one remembers second place so we just have to do our job properly,” says Ben Matulino.
After tonight's trial, the front row contenders will get one last chance to impress, against Queensland Cup side the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles in Whangarei next weekend.
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