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Brett Seymour trains with the Warriors - Source: Photosport -
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New playmaker Brett Seymour plus fellow off-season recruits Jeremy Latimore and James Maloney will all make their first appearances for the Warriors in their opening 2010 preseason trial against the Sydney Roosters in Rotorua next Saturday.
As well as confirming first-up outings for the new trio, coach Ivan Cleary said two of the club's outstanding prospects Elijah Taylor and Shaun Johnson would play in the first of the club's three preseason hit-outs on consecutive weekends.
"The match against the Roosters will be a great chance not only for us but also for the public to have a good look at our three new signings," said Cleary.
"Brett, Jeremy and James have all settled in really well with us. They've trained well and they've also fitted into life in Auckland. Now they have a chance to show us what they can do."
Seymour has joined the Warriors after a total of 101 NRL appearances in stints with the Brisbane Broncos (2002-06) and Cronulla (2007-9).
Latimore made his debut for Parramatta in 2009 while Maloney did the same for Melbourne.
Cleary won't confirm the Warriors' full squad for the Rotorua match until later in the week and he's yet to determine which exact position Seymour will play.
"Brett will be in the halves but whether it's at six or seven is something we'll decide a little later. He can certainly play in both positions."
While Taylor and Johnson are now both fulltime members of the NRL squad they're both still eligible for another year of NYC football with the Junior Warriors.
After being named the club's NYC Young Player of the Year in 2008, Taylor - who can play in the back row, the centres or at standoff - won the overall Player of the Year accolade last year.
In his first season in the NYC, Johnson played all 25 games, scoring 241 points.
Taylor featured in the club's NRL trials last year and was set to make his first-grade debut against Parramatta late in the season only to be forced out with injury.
As well as the three new signings and the new faces Taylor and Johnson, Cleary confirmed the club's newest Kiwi international Ben Matulino will play in Rotorua along with Kevin Locke, who toured with the Kiwis' 2009 Four Nations squad but didn't play a match.
The Warriors travel to Rotorua on Friday and will have an open training session at the International Stadium at 5.00pm that day.
After playing the Roosters, the Warriors travel to Cairns for their second trial against North Queensland on February 20, then return home to take on Manly at North Harbour Stadium on February 27.
They open their NRL season against the Gold Coast Titans in
Robina on Sunday, March 14 with their first home game following
against Cronulla on Saturday, March 20.
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