Warrington boss Daryl Powell pays tribute to Mr Versatile
Photo by Steve Flynn/News Images
Warrington boss Daryl Powell has praised outside-back Peter Mata’utia as the ‘go to’ player to fill in for several positions in his side.
The compliment follows Mata’utia’s appearance at loose forward during Warrington’s recent 34-6 victory over Hull in Super League, with Sam Kasiano (ban), Josh McGuire (ban), James Harrison (injured) and Joe Bullock (injured) all sidelined.
Mata’utia, 32, featured in the halves the week before at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in replacement of Josh Drinkwater in the 38-0 victory, and has also played in the back-rower for the Halliwell Jones Stadium side this season.
The ex-Samoa international has featured in the centres four times so far this year, with his side sitting at the top of the Super League table with an unbeaten record in the first seven rounds.
Mata’utia, who joined Powell in making the switch from Castleford ahead of 2022, was a try-scorer in the home victory over Tony Smith’s Hull, taking his tally to two tries in seven appearances this campaign.
Warrington boss praises Peter Mata’utia
“I feel like Pete is our sort of go-to man if we need somebody to fill in at different positions,” Powell said.
“I thought he played really well against Hull.
“Just trying to balance the bench and the starting pack out. Obviously a couple of suspensions and with Daryl Clark, who has played a bit of 13 for us, getting injured as well, it left us really skinny in the middle of the field.
“I thought he played better against Hull than he did in the back-row when he’s moved positions.
“Personally, I was pleased to see how he went. I left him off and left Luke Thomas on there a little bit longer at the back end with the scoreline as it was.”
Off-season recruit McGuire has now served his seven-match suspension and is expected to play against Catalans during Rivals Round, while Kasiano will return from his one-match suspension.
Starting hooker Clark is expected to be sidelined until at least Round 10, having sustained a knee injury in his return to the Mend-A-Hose Jungle in Round Six.
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