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http://i.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/8481283/Friend-could-make-return-against-Cowboys
Friend could make return against Cowboys
Experienced Warriors hooker Nathan Friend has an outside chance of making his NRL return for the Easter Monday clash with North Queensland in Auckland.
The workaholic Friend has missed the Warriors' 0-3 start to the season after having shoulder surgery to repair nerve damage.
Coach Matthew Elliott says Friend should definitely be back in the next two weeks, but also has his fingers crossed that the 152-game veteran might be right to face the Cowboys.
''I hope so,'' Elliott said.
''I don't want to put any pressure on him by coming out and saying, yes, he's definitely a chance. What we'll do is see how he goes in his contact work this week.''
Friend is part of a crowded casualty ward at the Warriors, with the number of first-grade squad members unavailable in double figures.
Among them are winger Manu Vatuvei (ankle), prop Russell Packer (arm) and centre Jerome Ropati (knee).
Vatuvei could be back next week, Packer is still three to four weeks from returning, while Ropati's first NRL appearance since last May could come in a fortnight.
In Friend's absence, back-rower Elijah Taylor has stepped into the No.9 jersey to operate with halves Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai.
Elliott said he had massive faith in Taylor's ability. But he also said it was always going to be tough to adapt to a new system, new position and new halves combination, and Friend's return would ease the situation.
Elliott also cited confidence as a key issue for the Warriors, who sit bottom of the table.
''At the moment, we're making an error and everyone gets conservative straight away,'' he said.
''So the amount of ball movement, for example, that we're getting in attack is nowhere near what we prepared to do, so we get more conservative.''
The result was more errors and Elliott said the message to the players was to try to avoid tightening up, adding: ''This is more about mind-set.''
Friend could make return against Cowboys
Experienced Warriors hooker Nathan Friend has an outside chance of making his NRL return for the Easter Monday clash with North Queensland in Auckland.
The workaholic Friend has missed the Warriors' 0-3 start to the season after having shoulder surgery to repair nerve damage.
Coach Matthew Elliott says Friend should definitely be back in the next two weeks, but also has his fingers crossed that the 152-game veteran might be right to face the Cowboys.
''I hope so,'' Elliott said.
''I don't want to put any pressure on him by coming out and saying, yes, he's definitely a chance. What we'll do is see how he goes in his contact work this week.''
Friend is part of a crowded casualty ward at the Warriors, with the number of first-grade squad members unavailable in double figures.
Among them are winger Manu Vatuvei (ankle), prop Russell Packer (arm) and centre Jerome Ropati (knee).
Vatuvei could be back next week, Packer is still three to four weeks from returning, while Ropati's first NRL appearance since last May could come in a fortnight.
In Friend's absence, back-rower Elijah Taylor has stepped into the No.9 jersey to operate with halves Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai.
Elliott said he had massive faith in Taylor's ability. But he also said it was always going to be tough to adapt to a new system, new position and new halves combination, and Friend's return would ease the situation.
Elliott also cited confidence as a key issue for the Warriors, who sit bottom of the table.
''At the moment, we're making an error and everyone gets conservative straight away,'' he said.
''So the amount of ball movement, for example, that we're getting in attack is nowhere near what we prepared to do, so we get more conservative.''
The result was more errors and Elliott said the message to the players was to try to avoid tightening up, adding: ''This is more about mind-set.''
