Warriors head coach Andrew Webster has given opportunities to some new and returning faces ahead of their NRL opener on Friday against the Cronulla Sharks.
There are some new faces in the Warriors camp this year with new signings Kurt Capewell and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck being named in the starting line up for the Friday night match.
The Warriors won one match from two in their pre-season matches but Webster doesn't think you can read too much into those results.
“You can assume or get too excited with pre-season or trials. I don't think anyone knows what we're going to get," said Webster.
“There’s expectation for us because of the excitement outside since we did well last season."
Webster wants his side’s mentality and effort to be on display in the opening round and will be happy if his players show good intentions with their play.
“If we don’t build pressure this week, everything we did in pre-season won't mean anything.”
The Warriors coach doesn’t want to get ahead of himself after last season’s fourth placed finish created a buzz for Warriors fans all around the country.
“We're not going to be perfect — no team is.”
The Warriors managed to get two wins over the Sharks last season.
One of those wins included an inspiring comeback after the Warriors trailled 20-0 inside the opening 18 minutes, to come back in the second half and pull off a memorable 32-30 victory.
The Warriors picked up a Halberg Award for this match as New Zealand’s favourite sporting moment of last year which was voted for by the public.
Tohu Harris will continue as captain of the side for the 2024 season and expects the fans to turn up in good numbers at Go Media Stadium in Mt Smart.
“The excitement around New Zealand has been outstanding, there's always more room on the bandwagon,” Harris said.
The Warriors announced yesterday that Marata Niukore was out, due to a foot injury and won’t feature for the start of the season.
Luke Metcalf has earned his spot in the halves alongside Shaun Johnson for the opening game in what was a hotly-contested position in the side.
Warriors team to play Cronulla Sharks in Auckland on Friday, kick off 8.00pm, is: Taine Tuaupiki, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Rocco Berry, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Marcelo Montoya, Luke Metcalf, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake, Wayde Egan, Mitchell Barnett, Jackson Ford, Kurt Capewell, Tohu Harris. Interchange: Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale, Bunty Afoa, Dylan Walker.
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