Wellington Warrior
Jack Hetherington to stay with Panthers, won't be loaned back to Warriors
Matt King/Getty Images
Jack Hetherington made an impact as a loan player at the Warriors, but won’t be back.
The Warriors won’t have Jack Hetherington in their team again this season as the Panthers have decided to hold onto him.
The forward was a stand out player for the Warriors during his loan period for the club, giving the team a level of aggression only Jazz Tevaga could match.
However, he picked up a four-game ban for a shoulder charge on the sea Eagles’ Martin Taupau last month.
That ban has come to an end and the Warriors were hoping Panthers coach Ivan Clearly would give permission for him to see out the season, starting on Sunday against the Sharks.
However, Cleary has decided he wants to keep Hetherington in the Panthers camp for the rest of this year.
If anything, Hetherington was too good for the Warriors during his six games for the club and it gave Cleary a reminder of just how much of a talent the 24-year-old is.
If had played well, but been not that exceptional, Cleary may have let him remain with the Warriors. With only three weeks to go, the Warriors have decided not to look for another loan player at this point.
But while Hetherington is gone, the Warriors have been able to keep hold of their two loan players from the Eels, winger George Jennings and prop Daniel Alvaro.
Not surprisingly, Eels coach Brad Arthur wouldn’t allow Jennings and Alvaro to play in the game between his club and the Warriors last weekend.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
George Jennings may get to see out the remainder of this season with the Warriors, before returning to the Eels for the playoffs.
But he has given permission for the Warriors to use both of them in Sunday’s must win game.
Jennings and Alvaro will continue to be with the Warriors on a week by week basis for the remainder of the season, which means if there is an injury in the Eels squad they are likely to be called back, but otherwise they’re expected to see out the season with the Warriors.
With three games to go, the Warriors are four points behind the eighth placed Sharks.
So if they win they remain in contention for finals footy, but lose and the players can lock in September 28 as the date for their Mad Monday.
While the 24-18 loss to the Eels last weekend was a setback, Warriors prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown says there’s still hope of playing finals footy.
Isaiah Papali'i will start at prop against the Sharks on Sunday.
“There’s still a possibility we could make it,” Taunoa-Brown said.
“But our focus isn’t that right now, our focus is on this week and doing everything we can to get the win.”
The 23-year-old Taunoa-Brown is one of the players who can give Warriors fans hope for next season, along with other young forwards like Eliesa Katoa and Jack Murchie.
He initially joined the club on a training contract, but has demonstrated he’s able to play at this level and has been rewarded with a contract through to the end of the 2022 season.
The Melbourne born Taunoa-Brown said he’s looked to keep improving over the season.
“My defence is something I’ve been trying to work on,” he said.
“From the start of the season, I’ve been trying to make some small progressions there.”
Aside from the Eels players coming back into the team, the only other change for the game against the Sharks is Isaiah Papalii combing into the front row, with Lachlan Burr moved to the interchange bench.
Meanwhile, former Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson is back in the Sharks team, having missed the last two weeks with a groin strain.
But the Sharks will have to play without Chad Townsend and Wade Graham, who are both suspended.
AT A GLANCE
Sharks: William Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Josh Dugan, Jesse Ramien, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Connor Tracey, Shaun Johnson, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Blayke Brailey, Aaron Woods, Briton Nikora, Siosifa Talakai, Toby Rudolph. Interchange (from): Teig Wilton, Jack Williams, Andrew Fifita, Royce Hunt, Scott Sorensen, Bryson Goodwin, Brayon Trindall, Billy Magoulias.
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), Adam Pompey, Hayze Perham, Peta Hiku, George Jennings, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita; Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Karl Lawton, Isaiah Papalii, Jack Murchie, Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga. Interchange (from): Wayde Egan, Adam Blair, Daniel Alvaro, Lachlan Burr, Josh Curran, Paul Turner, Tom Ale, Gerard Beale.
Matt King/Getty Images
Jack Hetherington made an impact as a loan player at the Warriors, but won’t be back.
The Warriors won’t have Jack Hetherington in their team again this season as the Panthers have decided to hold onto him.
The forward was a stand out player for the Warriors during his loan period for the club, giving the team a level of aggression only Jazz Tevaga could match.
However, he picked up a four-game ban for a shoulder charge on the sea Eagles’ Martin Taupau last month.
That ban has come to an end and the Warriors were hoping Panthers coach Ivan Clearly would give permission for him to see out the season, starting on Sunday against the Sharks.
However, Cleary has decided he wants to keep Hetherington in the Panthers camp for the rest of this year.
If anything, Hetherington was too good for the Warriors during his six games for the club and it gave Cleary a reminder of just how much of a talent the 24-year-old is.
If had played well, but been not that exceptional, Cleary may have let him remain with the Warriors. With only three weeks to go, the Warriors have decided not to look for another loan player at this point.
But while Hetherington is gone, the Warriors have been able to keep hold of their two loan players from the Eels, winger George Jennings and prop Daniel Alvaro.
Not surprisingly, Eels coach Brad Arthur wouldn’t allow Jennings and Alvaro to play in the game between his club and the Warriors last weekend.
Mark Kolbe/Getty Images
George Jennings may get to see out the remainder of this season with the Warriors, before returning to the Eels for the playoffs.
But he has given permission for the Warriors to use both of them in Sunday’s must win game.
Jennings and Alvaro will continue to be with the Warriors on a week by week basis for the remainder of the season, which means if there is an injury in the Eels squad they are likely to be called back, but otherwise they’re expected to see out the season with the Warriors.
With three games to go, the Warriors are four points behind the eighth placed Sharks.
So if they win they remain in contention for finals footy, but lose and the players can lock in September 28 as the date for their Mad Monday.
While the 24-18 loss to the Eels last weekend was a setback, Warriors prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown says there’s still hope of playing finals footy.
Isaiah Papali'i will start at prop against the Sharks on Sunday.
“There’s still a possibility we could make it,” Taunoa-Brown said.
“But our focus isn’t that right now, our focus is on this week and doing everything we can to get the win.”
The 23-year-old Taunoa-Brown is one of the players who can give Warriors fans hope for next season, along with other young forwards like Eliesa Katoa and Jack Murchie.
He initially joined the club on a training contract, but has demonstrated he’s able to play at this level and has been rewarded with a contract through to the end of the 2022 season.
The Melbourne born Taunoa-Brown said he’s looked to keep improving over the season.
“My defence is something I’ve been trying to work on,” he said.
“From the start of the season, I’ve been trying to make some small progressions there.”
Aside from the Eels players coming back into the team, the only other change for the game against the Sharks is Isaiah Papalii combing into the front row, with Lachlan Burr moved to the interchange bench.
Meanwhile, former Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson is back in the Sharks team, having missed the last two weeks with a groin strain.
But the Sharks will have to play without Chad Townsend and Wade Graham, who are both suspended.
AT A GLANCE
Sharks: William Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Josh Dugan, Jesse Ramien, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Connor Tracey, Shaun Johnson, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Blayke Brailey, Aaron Woods, Briton Nikora, Siosifa Talakai, Toby Rudolph. Interchange (from): Teig Wilton, Jack Williams, Andrew Fifita, Royce Hunt, Scott Sorensen, Bryson Goodwin, Brayon Trindall, Billy Magoulias.
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c), Adam Pompey, Hayze Perham, Peta Hiku, George Jennings, Kodi Nikorima, Chanel Harris-Tavita; Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Karl Lawton, Isaiah Papalii, Jack Murchie, Tohu Harris, Jazz Tevaga. Interchange (from): Wayde Egan, Adam Blair, Daniel Alvaro, Lachlan Burr, Josh Curran, Paul Turner, Tom Ale, Gerard Beale.
