Cooper aims to sidestep bad case of deja Vuna
COOPER Vuna is praying for a dry track for Newcastle's trial against Melbourne at St John Oval tonight.
Vuna could be excused for treading carefully against the Storm, having suffered a serious knee injury in a pre-season hit-out against Newcastle club Central Charlestown this time last year on the same ground, which was sodden after heavy rain.
The 22-year-old Tongan international had a pre-game vision someone would be injured in the slippery conditions and jinxed himself, tearing ligaments in his right knee in a Butcher Boys gang tackle and missing the first third of the season.
"It's going to be tough," Vuna laughed.
"It's always in my head, going back to St John Oval, where I did my knee, so hopefully it doesn't rain and I'll be sweet."
Vuna's bad luck continued when he partly dislocated his left shoulder playing for Cessnock not long after returning from his knee injury.
He recovered to finish the year in first grade for the Knights and after off-season surgery on that shoulder and a solid summer strength and conditioning program, is determined to start this season where he finished last year.
Vuna said coach Rick Stone planned to use him on the wing for the first two quarters tonight and in the centres in the third quarter.
Best known for running over the top of opponents rather than around them, the powerfully built finisher said he had been practising his footwork in the off-season.
"I've been working hard all pre-season on getting out of dummy-half real quick and trying to set up the plays for the boys for play one and two, because we need a strong comeback on kick returns to set the boys up for a good set," Vuna said.
Coached by Tony Adam, the Storm will field a squad of mostly NSW Cup and National Youth Cup hopefuls, because their senior players are in England preparing for the World Club Challenge against Leeds at Elland Road next weekend with Craig Bellamy.
The game, for the inaugural Kurt Fearnley Cup, kicks off at 7pm. Entry is by gold coin donation and proceeds will benefit disability support groups in the Hunter.
The Central Coast Centurions will play The Entrance in a NSW Cup trial from 5pm.
In other NRL trials on Saturday night, South Sydney recruit Dave Taylor will make his Rabbitohs debut against Gold Coast in Coffs Harbour and five-eighth John Sutton will make his return from a neck injury against new Titans pivot Greg Bird.
Former rookie of the year Tim Smith will get another chance to push for a start with Brisbane when the Broncos tackle Canberra at Ballymore.
The Broncos are still without the services of injured pair Darren Lockyer and Peter Wallace.
Sydney Roosters discard Willie Mason will blow out a few cobwebs when he lines up in a North Queensland NRL/NYC composite side against Queensland Cup side Northern Pride, that game being a curtain-raiser for the Cowboys-Warriors match in Cairns.
Western Sydney bragging rights will be on the line when Parramatta and Penrith clash at CUA Stadium. The Eels will unveil new signings Jason Poore and Shane Shackleton as well as give international pair Jarryd Hayne and Nathan Hindmarsh their first hit-outs for the Eels this season.
Poore's former club, the Dragons, take on the Bulldogs in Wollongong.
Knights squad: S Dureau, J Edwards, J Fawcett, B Fruean, C Houston, M Karawana, K Lulia, P Mata'utia, C Mika, J Mullen, K Naiqama, W Naiqama, G Ndaira, T Roberts, J Sau, M Taufua, Z Tetevano, D Tolar, S Tovo, E Tuimavave, A Uate, C Vuna.
Storm squad: J Hitchcox, M Sevi, J Jerome, M Faamasili, B Leslie, S Lalatoa, L Fanene, D Hita, D O'Regan, B Potae, P Vaituutuu, D Langford, J Woolford, B Norrie, M Te Heu Heu, F Makimare, A Munro, B Rogers, A Killingbeck.
Herald
