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Sport Nation
Warriors coach keeping options open for new halves duo
Melissa Woods, AAP • February 5th, 2025 8:00 am
Photo: AAP
Coach Andrew Webster feels the Warriors will be a more unpredictable outfit without retired play-making linchpin Shaun Johnson.
The Warriors are preparing for their first hit-out of the year, playing a trial against Cronulla at Sharks Stadium on Friday night.
Webster has picked a strong outfit for the pre-season clash, including star signing, Penrith premiership prop James Fisher-Harris, in the starting side.
He left out halves options Gold Coast recruit Tanah Boyd and Chanel Harris-Tavita, saying they were both carrying slight niggles.
Former Shark Luke Metcalf, who started his seven games at five-eighth last season, will wear the No.7 jersey vacated by Johnson, partnering Te Maire Martin.
"We're going to go stronger than everyone thinks in our first two trials as we've just had a long pre-season and we've hit each other for too long," Webster told reporters in Auckland.
Andrew Webster I Photo: AAP
"We'd like to put out a decent team this week that's close to round one and see how it goes.
"(There's) a couple of little niggles there, so the halves will pick themselves this week, but our four halves have been excellent in the pre-season."
Webster didn't reveal who was the front-runner to permanently replace Johnson, but said he didn't expect the new halfback to try to replicate the club legend.
He has previously said he was a big fan of the kicking game of Boyd, who crossed the Tasman after six seasons with the Titans.
Webster said a new face could have some positives for the Warriors, who finished a disappointing 13th last season after making the 2023 preliminary final.
"Our vision is that it's what suits them (the halves) and it's what brings out their strengths and what brings out the strengths in the whole side,'' the coach said.
"It's going to look different - I think it'll be a bit more balanced around the field as Shaun was very dominant on the ball.
"Seven times out of 10 the ball went to Shaun, so I think this time the field will look a little a bit more balanced as the opposition probably won't know as much.
"They're new, I just want them to be themselves and play the way they want to - they're exciting, we back them, we love them."
