Warriors wait on Foran

As Kieran Foran battles to overcome a quad injury which kept him out of last week's victory over the Canterbury Bulldogs, Ata Hingano is ready to assume the five-eighth role if needed this Saturday night against the Manly Sea Eagles.

Foran remains questionable for the trip to Perth, still nursing the injury he sustained in the second half of the Warriors' Round 14 clash with the Gold Coast Titans, with coach Stephen Kearney including Hingano on the bench as cover at this stage.

With veteran hooker Issac Luke (shoulder) already a confirmed out, it's likely Hingano will feature in the final 17 as the back-up rake even if Foran does play, and the 20-year-old told NRL.com that he will be ready to start if required.

"My preparation is going to be the same whether I am playing in the halves or at hooker," Hingano said.

"I took being able to start in the halves last week as a moment of opportunity, I definitely got a lot of confidence from it ahead of this weekend.

"If I end up in the middle then I'll have two good halves next to me who I'll listen to and just play my role."

Meanwhile Kearney gave an update on the progress of both Foran and Luke, while endorsing Hingano as the man for the job at either standoff or hooker.

"[Kieran's] a lot further ahead this week than he was last week, so we are quietly confident," Kearney said.

"[Issac] has pulled up pretty well and obviously after this week we get the opportunity to rest for the bye, so depending on how his rehab goes we anticipate he will be back for the Penrith game [in Round 19].

"[Ata] could potentially [play dummy-half], he has played a little bit of time in there before at NRL level and I am sure he can fill in there quite easily." 

 

Photo: NRL Photos.Kieran Foran remains in some doubt for the Warriors.