National Rugby League PremiershipBy W D Nicolson - February 23, 2017
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NRL SuperCoach and NRL Fantasy pundits rejoice - your old mate The Postman is back with his take on the 17 Warriors he believes Stephen Kearney will pick for Round 1:
- Roger TUIVASA-SHECK
- Tuimoala LOLOHEA
- Solomone KATA
- David FUSITUA
- Manu VATUVEI
- Ata HINGANO
- Shaun JOHNSON
- Sam LISONE
- Issac LUKE
- Jacob LILLYMAN
- Bodene THOMPSON
- Ryan HOFFMAN
- Simon MANNERING
BENCH - Albert VETE
- Bunty AFOA
- Blake AYSHFORD
- Isaiah PAPALII or James GAVET or Charlie GUBB
- Bodene Thompson is under the biggest injury cloud entering Round 1 - as he hasn't played a minute during the pre-season. Bunty Afoa will come straight in for him on the right edge. Fellow backrower Ryan Hoffman has a niggle in his foot but is expected to play - Blake Ayshford will likely get a run on the bench as the utility cover.
- David Fusitua will win the right centre spot next to Tuimoala Lolohea, with Ata Hingano beating out Mason Lino for the five-eighth job - though he'll make way for Kieran Foran in Round 3. Ken Maumalo is the backup winger (covering for Vatuvei's niggling injury history) with Ayshford facing competition from impressive youngster Junior Pauga to be the backup centre.
- Albert Vete, Jacob Lillyman and Sam Lisone are locked into the prop rotation - with the injured Ben Matulino not due back for a month or two - leaving one spot for one of James Gavet, Charlie Gubb or another impressive youngster - Isaiah Papalii who is only 18. Kearney isn't Andrew McFadden (though the latter is still on staff and now rather bizarrely running water again to players he coached) so he might go with a youngster here - making Papalii a potential SuperCoach cheapie given Matulino's injury status.
- Issac Luke wants to play 80mins so it appears neither Erin Clark or Mason Lino will be able to snag a bench hooking spot for Round 1. Incumbent bench hooker Jazz Tevaga was battling an ankle sprain during the pre-season and doesn't appear to be right for Round 1.
Bodene Thompson (Ankle - Opening Rounds), Ryan Hoffman (Foot - Opening Rounds), Charlie Gubb (Neck - Opening Rounds), Ben Matulino (Knee - Round 4 on), Kieran Foran (Suspended through Round 2), Jazz Tevaga (Ankle - Opening Rounds).
