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NRL Warriors say RTS good for round one

The Warriors' hopes of giving their new-look spine a solid hitout against St George Illawarra hit a hurdle when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's hurt his ribs.

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Source: AAP


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Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is expected to be available for the Warriors' NRL season opener against Wests Tigers despite suffering a rib injury in their 46-10 trial loss to St George Illawarra.

Star recruit Tuivasa-Sheck only completed half of Saturday's match in Nelson before being replaced after copping a knock.

The Warriors released a statement on Sunday saying Tuivasa-Sheck was expected to be fit to face for the Tigers on March 5 at Campbelltown.

Club record try-scorer Manu Vatuvei's night also ended early, the winger lasting only 25 minutes due to a head knock but he was also expected to be right for the season opener in Sydney.

The news wasn't so good for the Warriors' Manly recruit Ligi Sao who looks likely to miss the start of the season after dislocating his shoulder.

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Sao suffered his injury in the second half, having impressed with his work up the middle after starting as lock.

The hit-out at Trafalgar Park was the first time the Warriors had their big three of Tuivasa-Sheck, fellow major signing and hooker Issac Luke and halfback Shaun Johnson on the field together.

Coach Andrew McFadden saw the defeat as a wake-up call for his side.

"We got a bit of a reality check there and it was probably timely for us as well," he said.

"There's been a lot of hype around our recruits and what they might add to us. Well, we found out it's going to take a team effort."

McFadden said the Dragons showed the benefits of a tough encounter the previous weekend, when they lost to South Sydney 18-14 in the Charity Shield.

The Warriors had played a low-key trial against Gold Coast in Whangarei on the same day, with both sides without frontline personnel.

McFadden said the Dragons were more physical and won the battle up the middle of the field.

"We got a bit of dose of where we sit, but I'm sure we can rectify that very quickly."


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