19 Feb 2015

Top players return to Warriors lineup

11:12 am on 19 February 2015

Captain Simon Mannering, front rower Jacob Lillyman and centre Konrad Hurrell will make their first appearances in the Warriors' pre-season campaign in Saturday's final hit-out ahead of the 2015 National Rugby League season.

Simon Mannering

Simon Mannering Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The trio missed the NRL Auckland Nines as well as the NRL trials against the Gold Coast Titans and the Penrith Panthers but they have been confirmed to turn out in Saturday afternoon's inter-squad clash in Papakura.

Mannering has come off a heavy 2014 campaign in which he was on the field for close to every minutes of the Warriors' 24 matches while he was also ever-present in leading the Kiwis in five Tests culminating in the Four Nations victory in Wellington.

Lillyman (knee) and Hurrell (wrist) are making comebacks from offseason surgery.

Saturday's trial in Papakura is the feature attraction of a Warriors community day; it's the first time the club's NRL stars have played on a suburban ground.

Head coach Andrew McFadden will field an NRL side against a Stacey Jones-coached New South Wales Cup line-up.

The teams will be selected from the club's wider NRL squad with the possibility of some NYC players also being involved.

There will also be a trial between two sides selected from the club's NYC and Academy squads before the feature match.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.