NZ Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys will both welcome back key players from injury for their NRL clash at Central Coast Stadium on Friday night.
The Warriors confirmed Peta Hiku has overcome a rib injury and will start at centre for Hayze Perham, while barnstorming Jason Taumalolo returns, after missing the Cowboys' defeat to Cronulla Sharks with a bone bruise to his knee.
Hiku injured ribs during the Warriors' win over the Dragons, forcing him out of last week's defeat to Penrith Panthers. Although Perham held his own in his first NRL start, the Warriors will be pleased to welcome back Hiku's experience.
Along with Perham, prop Agnatius Paasi has also been omitted from the bench.
The Warriors still boast one of the NRL's biggest casualty wards, with the likes of Ken Maumalo, Leeson Ah Mau and Jazz Tevaga all out indefinitely.
Meanwhile, Green hasn't confirmed what role Auckland-born Taumalolo will play, but will decide during the Cowboys' six-hour trip to the Central Coast on game day.
Taumalolo's return is timely, with experienced forwards Jake Granville and John Asiata missing the game.
Warriors playmaker Blake Green says his team are wary of Taumalolo's influence.
"He's a huge threat for them, carries the most metres for them every week and probably has the most touches," he says.
"He's had a week off, and is freshened and ready to go. He's a huge focus area for us, a huge part of their game and they've got a young kid on debut."
Despite being held scoreless for the second time in four games, Green says the Warriors will continue to try risk-free football.
The method appeared to work during the Warriors' 18-0 win over the Dragons, but not against the Panthers.
"The first week was pretty emotionally charged for us [against the Dragons]," he says. "We put a whole heap of energy into our performance in the first game.
"I'm not sure if there was a bit of a come-down, we didn't play with the same level of energy.
"With the new six-again rule, we decided the more you keep the ball, the more chance you are of getting a repeat set and rolling down the field.
"Particularly in the first month coming back from the COVID-19 break, I think that's probably the style that we're going to run with and see where that takes us."
Join us at 8pm Friday for live updates of the NZ Warriors v North Queensland Cowboys NRL clash
