Tackle machine Michael Luck determined

FIONA GOODALL/Auckland Suburbans

TACKLE MACHINE: Backrower Michael Luck, the kingpin of the Warriors defence, is ready for the challenge against Gold Coast's Greg Bird, Scott Prince, Mat Rogers and Preston Campbell.

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A refreshed Michael Luck says he's ready to pick up where he left off with the NRL's most prolific tackle machine determined to help the Warriors blunt the Titans in their season-opener on Sunday.

Luck carries plenty of responsibilities into the Gold Coast showdown with the captaincy added to his mantle as the kingpin of the Warriors' defence.

He reckons he will need to be at his best to stop the big Titans forwards and the ever-present danger of their talented backs where aggressive new recruit Greg Bird joins the likes of Scott Prince, Mat Rogers and Preston Campbell.

It's a package tipped to push the Storm and Eels for this year's title and one that will certainly test the new-look Warriors, particularly at a hot Skilled Park in Robina where kickoff is set for 1pm local time.

The 27-year-old Luck is up for the challenge. He has made a living out of lowering opponents with the transplanted Queenslander surviving nine years in the competition largely on the basis of his huge work rate.

Last season he finished top of the competition's tackle count with a stunning 1043 tackles. That included an NRL record game high of 76 against Melbourne and an average of 46 per match.

Not surprisingly Luck, more than most, enjoyed the extended summer's break that came with the Warriors' early exit last year.

 "Yeah I was pretty knackered by the end of the year. But that's my role in this side. I have to make sure our defence is going OK. If it isn't then it's my job to identify where the problems are and try to fix them. We have done a lot of work in the offseason and hopefully there's not much to fix on Sunday," Luck said.

Luck describes the Titans as one of the "finesse sides" of the competition and believes they will be a good gauge for the Warriors defensive systems first up.

"Every time the Gold Coast have beaten us they have got their quick plays going and come straight at us. So we have to be really good in the middle and dominate as much as we can in defence.

"If you let them get a roll on they can hurt you with their playmakers."

Luck senses a quiet confidence and plenty of enthusiasm around him after three promising trials matches. But it's not the time for some of the brash statements that were associated with the Warriors early last year.

"Everyone is itchy to play. It's been a long offseason after going out early last year so you have plenty of time to think about what you did wrong and we have trained hard to fix a lot of things.

"Last year there was confidence at the start but we didn't handle what happened after that when things didn't go so well.

"I think right now everyone is just focussed on processes and not results. If we get the processes right the results will come."

Luck says the Warriors are liking the lack of hype around them this year

"I think last year taught us a lot of lessons, even myself," said the veteran back rower who is about to play his 99^th game for the Warriors after 76 for the North Queensland Cowboys.

"I've never been in a situation coming into the season where you have been the side everyone is talking about. You saw what happened-we just didn't handle it well and the outcome wasn't what we wanted. You learn from the mistakes you made and now it's up to us to showed what we have learned."

If Luck and his forwards can get their job done it should set up a fascinating duel in the halves that might yet determine the outcome of this match.

New Warriors James Maloney and Brett Seymour are building cohesion as a combination.

Coach Ivan Clearly feels there is plenty of development left in their partnership but sense that already they have significantly improved the Warriors' troublesome kicking game.

On a hot afternoon under the Queensland sun any form of easy metres will be appreciated.

- © Fairfax NZ News