Backrower Feleti Mateo and five-eighth Chad Townsend have been dropped from Warriors acting coach Andrew McFadden’s first NRL team selection.
Sebastine Ikahihifo replaces Mateo at lock for the match against Canterbury-Bankstown in Auckland on Sunday, while Thomas Leuluai takes over the No.6 jersey.
Ikahihifo made his first appearance of the season as a substitute in the 37-6 defeat to Cronulla last weekend.
The experienced Leuluai, an ever-present for the Warriors last season, has been restricted to two games off the bench this year after coming back from a groin injury.
Both Mateo and Townsend will turn out for the Warriors’s New South Wales Cup team.
McFadden, who was handed the reins with Matthew Elliott’s departure after the loss to the Sharks, says Mateo needs to play himself back into form.
He says Townsend’s omission is tough on the player.
“He has been doing a good job but Thomas is a key player for us,” McFadden said.
“He’s a leader and is ready to come back into the starting line-up.”
There is one other change in the run-on 13, with Ngani Laumape coming in on the right wing for Glen Fisiiahi, who has a shoulder injury.
An expanded six-man bench includes hooker Siliva Havili, who is in line to make his NRL debut.
McFadden said the team had dealt with the poor performance against the Sharks and had turned their focus to the clash with the second-placed Bulldogs at Eden Park.
“We’ve had a difficult week but now it’s all about the football and taking on a side that has been going really well.”
Warriors: Sam Tomkins, Ngani Laumape, Dane Nielsen, Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Jayson Bukuya, Simon Mannering (capt), Sebastine Ikahihifo. Interchange (from): Jacob Lillyman, Suaia Matagi, Dominique Peyroux, Charlie Gubb, Siliva Havili, David Bhana.
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