NRL: Warriors make three changes for Brisbane Broncos clash

  • 10/07/2018

The Warriors have made three changes for their showdown with the Brisbane Broncos at Suncorp Stadium but none of them involve under-fire centre Peta Hiku.

The much-maligned back has managed to retain his No. 3 jersey despite coming in for heavy criticism after his lacklustre showing in the side's heavy defeat to the Panthers on Friday.

Gerard Beale moves onto the left wing to replace regular Ken Maumalo, who's succumbed to a knee injury. There's no detail yet regarding its severity, but the loss of the in-form winger will be sorely felt.

Centre Anthony Gelling will fill Beale's spot on the bench alongside 20-year-old Joe Vuna, who made his debut against the Storm on Anzac Day.

Half Shaun Johnson dismissed Hiku's nightmare showing as nothing more than an anomaly and symptomatic of the wider team's issues.

"One game and people really start to forget how he's played this whole year," said Johnson.

"He was off the other night, there's no doubt about it. He wasn't the only one, but he's certainly copped the brunt of it.

"I'm excited to get back out there with him this weekend."

Coach Stephen Kearney admitted it wasn't Hiku's finest performance but refused to be drawn into making any knee-jerk selection changes.

"Hiku, by his own standards, didn't play well on Friday night," Kearney noted." But he's done a pretty good job for us for the last 17 weeks.

"One thing that can castrophize things is when you start panicking and make wholesale changes, and you know me well enough to know that I'm not going to do that."

The other four players on the extended bench are prop Ligi Sao, hooker Karl Lawton, centre Blake Ayshford and halfback Mason Lino.

After their strong start to the season, the Warriors have dropped to eighth on the NRL ladder, one spot below the Broncos by virtue of a four-point differential.

Warriors: 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (C), 2 David Fusitu’a, 3 Peta Hiku, 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Gerard Beale, 6 Blake Green, 7 Shaun Johnson, 8 James Gavet, 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 11 Isaiah Papali’I, 12 Simon Mannering, 13 Adam Blair

Interchange: 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Chris Satae, 16 Joseph Vuna, 17 Anthony Gelling, 18 Ligi Sao, 20 Karl Lawton, 21 Blake Ayshford, 22 Mason Lino

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