New Zealand Warriors

Kearney rolled out a mix of youth and experience in front of a vocal Rotorua crowd, his side getting the job done 20-16 over a depleted Storm side without any notable first graders.

"There were some really nice patches there. In terms of expectations this early, I was pleased. For the most part it was good and there are some real positive signs," Kearney said.

"I think we started a bit sheepish, a bit slow there as a group but overall I'm pretty happy with what I saw."

After seeking a release from Wigan to return to Auckland following a car crash in which his girlfriend was seriously injured, Gelling had to beg for an opportunity with the club he had always expected to play for when he joined Sydney Roosters as an 18-year-old in 2009.

Again turned away when he approached the Warriors late last year, Gelling refused to give up and the Cook Islands international now has 12 months to prove himself but he is aiming to win more than just a contract extension.

Running the rule over all 16 clubs ahead of the 2018 season, the former Dragons and Panthers star also named Knights recruit Connor Watson as the man under most pressure to perform at the club, even ahead of high-profile signing Mitch Pearce.

Soward also backed young Storm half Brodie Croft to seamlessly slip into Cooper Cronk's shoes and help the club press for back-to-back titles.

n terms of the Warriors, Soward identified Green as the man to reverse the problems that have dogged the talent-laden, but underperforming, team in recent years.

There is plenty of depth when it comes to the pack and outside backs meaning some relatively experienced first-graders will be missing out in both positions. At this stage, the likes of Ken Maumalo, Mason Lino, Ligi Sao and Blake Ayshford might not crack the 21.

NRL.com expert Jamie Soward says:

A loss at Leichhardt Oval will make it nine-straight defeats for the Kiwi franchise, setting a new record for their worst run ever in a single season, and confirming they will finish their 2017 season without a win in three months of football. 

While some players this week said they weren't aware of the record, and others brushed it off, playmaker Ata Hingano confronted the issue with refreshing honesty.

With the 31-year-old having fallen behind Ken Maumalo, David Fusitu'a and rookie Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the race for a wing spot in the first-grade side, there have been suggestions that Vatuvei could bring his 226 games worth of experience to the pack as an impact forward off the bench.

As Titans five-eighth Kane Elgey drifted left late in the final minute of the first half against the Cowboys in Townsville last Saturday night, back-rower Joe Greenwood speared back on an angle.

Elgey hit the towering Englishman with a short ball 12 metres from the Cowboys try-line, a wonderful tackle down low by Lachlan Coote all that stopped Greenwood from crossing for his third try of the season.

With an exhausted and injury-ravaged Parramatta down to one fit player on the bench, the Warriors stormed back from 26-12 down to make it 26-24 with eight minutes to play.

With all the momentum behind them, the Warriors came up with some terrible options or errors to let the Eels off the hook before a late Clint Gutherson match-winner sealed the deal.

After the Green Machine's right side of Jordan Rapana, Joseph Leilua and Elliott Whitehead tore the Gold Coast Titans apart in last week's 46-16 victory, scoring five of the Raiders' eight tries and making a combined 26 tackle breaks, it comes as little surprise that they have dominated much of the pre-match discussion.

Bodene Thompson has been named in the second row after playing only the first half against the Titans. Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney brought James Gavet off the bench to start last weekend but he has again listed Charlie Gubb as veteran prop Jacob Lillyman's starting front-row partner.