Star trio back for Warriors

The Warriors have been boosted by the return of skipper Simon Mannering alongside strike players Manu Vatuvei and Brett Seymour for Saturday night's clash with the North Queensland Cowboys in Auckland.

While dynamic wing Vatuvei (hamstring) and playmaker Seymour (broken thumb) were expected to be back in action following last week's bye Mannering has also managed to overcome his hamstring problem and will line out for just the third time this season as the Warriors look to get their campaign back on track following three consecutive losses.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary has also brought back young wing Kevin Locke for Patrtick Ah Van who broke a jaw in the last loss to Canberra.

Young prop Mataupu Poching will make his debut.

Cleary is delighted to get some senior players back involved for a 10th round match that the Warriors must win.

"We've been waiting patiently for Simon, Manu and Brett to return and it's a great boost for us to have them back straight after the bye round," said Cleary.

"All three are obviously hugely important to the side for a whole range of reasons. We've had to battle through recently without them but at last we have some better news in terms of our injured players."

While the three big names return with more than 300 NRL games between them, Saturday night's game will be just the start of an NRL career for 22-year-old Poching.

A foundation player for the Junior Warriors in the NYC's first year in 2008, the Mangere East product was troubled by injury last year. However, he has impressed for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup, earning a call-up as the Vodafone Warriors' 161st NRL player and the third NYC graduate to debut this season.

"Upu is rewarded for his consistency for the Vulcans. He has really stood up for them every week and has done everything we've asked of him," said Cleary.

Poching has been named to team up with Kiwi prop Sam Rapira in the starting front row. Rapira has shurgged off his knee injury from last week's Anzac Test loss to Australia.

There is also another change in the back row where the returning Mannering will have Ukuma Ta'ai as his second row partner in the run-on side. Mannering replaces Lewis Brown while Ben Matulino moves to the bench.

With Seymour back at halfback, James Maloney replaces Joel Moon at standoff.

Mannering last played on March 28 after being forced off the field with a recurrence of his hamstring injury 23 minutes into the third-round game against Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.

Vatuvei was sidelined after his hamstring injury flared up again early in the second half of the Vodafone Warriors' fifth round victory over the Bulldogs. In his only appearances so far this season – two full games and two half games – Vatuvei has scored six tries and was involved in each of the club's three wins so far.

Ad Feedback Despite playing only 240 minutes of a possible 640 this season, Vatuvei still ranks among the NRL's top 10 try scorers and line breakers for the season to date.

Seymour, the Warriors' major off-season signing, has been out of action with a broken thumb since his club debut against Gold Coast in the opening round of the season.

Saturday night's match will produce a milestone moment for centre Brent Tate who will make his 150th NRL appearance. Tate's try against Canberra was the 50th of his career.

Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Mataupu Poching, Simon Mannering (captain), Ukuma Ta'ai, Micheal Luck. Interchange (one to be omitted): Ian Henderson, Ben Matulino, Jeremy Latimore, Russell Packer, Jesse Royal.