Warriors face wise heads

The Warriors are wary of the Gold Coast Titans' experience factor for the NRL finals and no-one epitomises that more than veteran Mat Rogers, who broke their hearts five weeks ago.

The dual international – a Kangaroos and Wallabies star – ripped the Warriors apart in their round 21 clash in Auckland.

His stunning late try – his second of the match – gave the Titans a 28-20 win and realistically killed off the Warriors' top four hopes.

In the end the Titans snared fourth and the Warriors held their nerve to finish fifth and set up a rematch of even bigger proportions.

Their playoff at Skilled Park in Robina on Friday night will be another emotional chapter in Rogers' farewell season.

At 34, Rogers is the senior figure in a Gold Coast outfit not short of wise old heads. He's also very much the man of the moment over there, although he is keen to avoid the spotlight in the finals, insisting the Titans as a team have plenty to make up for after their high hopes last year were dashed by consecutive playoffs losses.

Rogers was a central figure in last Friday's 21-18 win over the Tigers that gave Gold Coast the home rights against the Warriors.

Meanwhile, in-form Warriors backrower Lewis Brown has taken another step closer to Kiwis selection by being named in a train-on squad for the Tri-Nations tournament.

The former Canterbury Bulls representative is one of 12 players yet to make their New Zealand debuts.

Brown will have 10 Warriors teammates for company.

The final Kiwis squad are due to be named a few days after the NRL grand final on October 3.

- © Fairfax NZ News