NRL: Warriors prop stocks on the rise

Before the Warriors' final pre-season game last month coach Brian McClennan talked about refusing to put his props in cotton wool as he considered a distinguished injury line-up of Jacob Lillyman and Sam and Steve Rapira. While it is only two games into the season, the big men up front are proving a strength rather than a weakness as Sioni Lousi, Ben Matulino, Russell Packer, and to a lesser extent Ukuma Ta'ai are proving handfuls for their opposites. Sam Rapira, probably the Warriors second best prop after Lillyman (arm injury), could be an outside chance to play against the Titans next weekend after coming back from a shoulder injury, with Steve another two weeks away after that due to his ankle injury, but in the meantime their replacements are doing them proud. Lousi and Matulino in particular have caught the eye. "Defensively he [Lousi] was outstanding for us,'' said McClennan of the converted second rower's performance against the Eels. "He was able to halt their momentum with his technique and on attack he's got the skills of a back rower, he's got time, vision and nice, soft hands. He got stuck in in pre-season and he's been rewarded for it.'' McClennan said Matulino's increased consistency had come from experience, and it was his performance late in Monday night's victory over Parramatta which earned him his player's player of the match award and probably kept Ta'ai on the interchange bench. "I probably didn't give Ukuma enough time on the weekend. He'll probably get more minutes this week. I was pretty happy with what he did.'' With Packer trucking on in his usual no-nonsense manner, the forwards are in good shape but concerns remain around the Warriors' sluggish starts and their defence. The Eels went out to an 8-0 lead early, and Manly the week before also got off to a flyer. "We didn't get off to a good start and we realise we need to get into games quicker,'' McClennan said. "It's just happened twice so you can't say it's a trend. It might be best I don't bore them to death in my pre-game speech.'' All jokes aside, the Warriors defence on the edges again caused concern, with wingers Bill Tupou and Manu Vatuvei caught out. Vatuvei in particular is vulnerable in this area, but McClennan said many factors were involved. "We've looked at a bit of that this morning. We've got to improve there. The boys on the edge know that. We got stung early last week and early again on Monday night. There's a lot more to it than the average punter will see _ it's not one problem, there's a whole range of little things. I thought for periods we got it right.''