Toopi returns to take on Warriors
28 July 2010
Lewis Brown might be a converted centre but he has the faith and backing of the Warriors in the playoff countdown
Clinton Toopi |
He may be one of the more robust centres around, but the Warriors have total faith in their stand-in outside back.
Lewis Brown will fill in for the injured Jerome Ropati against the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL this weekend.
Hooker Aaron Heremaia says Brown has become a consistent stand-out, vital part of their team, pointing out that Brown gets into dummy half and makes the runs they need to take pressure off the forwards.
Consistency of selection looms as a factor as the race for the NRL top eight goes down to the wire.
The Warriors are battling injury yet again with Ropati and Kevin Locke out for Sunday.
The Titans have named an unchanged line-up, meaning former Warrior Clinton Toopi will return to take on his own club.
He left the Warriors in 2006 for the UK Super League, had a spell with Bay of Plenty in rugby union and is now a regular with the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.
Heremaia says an unchanged team is a nice luxury for the Titans to have at this time of the season as it gives cohesion.
For just the third time in two seasons, the game's top referee Tony Archer will control a match involving the Warriors.
Meanwhile Kiwi hooker Issac Luke will make an earlier than expected return from a shoulder injury against the Bulldogs on Friday night.
Luke has been named in the South Sydney line-up after completing a solo session yesterday .
Related Teams | New Zealand Warriors |
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