Utah Warriors head to Houston for season kickoff

HERRIMAN — The Utah Warriors hope to finish strong in order to get off to a fast start when opening their 2024 Major League Rugby season versus the Houston Sabercats this Saturday.

While the above verbiage might appear out of order, it’s exactly what Warriors coach Greg Cooper has spent the offseason focusing on with his team.

Digging holes early in the season standings has plagued the Warriors during recent seasons, and according to Cooper and his players, working to finish out matches stronger should prove key in reversing that trend for the 2024 MLR competition.

“A strong focus we’ve had has been on our conditioning,” Cooper said, when asked about the primary changes within his team this season. “For us last year, we felt as if we fell away during the last 20 minutes of the game, and then this last game, we scored three tries in the last 20 minutes of the game. So that was pleasing.”

That last game Cooper referred to was last Saturday’s resounding 40-0 preseason win over a very accomplished San Diego Legion team.

While Cooper is the first to point out that preseason results can be deceiving, he took confidence from the win.

“You don’t want to read too much into it, but the last preseason game is important because you’re getting near the combinations you’re going to be using during the regular season,” Cooper said. “I think the important thing was the heart that we showed…it was pleasing, but it’s a totally different proposition this coming week in round one.”

With regards to the combinations the Warriors will be using this year, it consists of a lot of familiar faces mixed with what Cooper hopes will prove some productive additions.

The Warriors electric back line will again be led by standout players like Joe Mano, Joel Hodgson, Mika Kruse and Caleb Makene, among several others, including former BYU football player Paul Lasike.

“I’m feeling good and my fingers are crossed that I can have a healthy season,” Lasike, who fought through injury for much of the 2023 season, said. “I’m excited to be here, we’ve had a really good preparation for the season over the last six weeks, and we’re excited to get things going.”

“We have some really good conductors there,” Cooper added. “And it’s obviously nice to see Paul Lasike back…so we’re fortunate to have the quality of attacking players we have and how well they play defense, as well.”

At the critical scrum half position, the Warriors return Zion Going with newcomers Kieran McClea and Sam Reimer, all of whom Cooper is confident can provide the necessary boost to the team’s attack.

The backs will be led by new offensive assistant coach Brendan O’Meara.

At forward, new defensive assistant coach Jimmy Lentjes will join returning coach Robbie Abel to train a group that includes some new local players like Kalisi Moli along with some savvy veterans such as Saia ‘Uhila, Bailey Wilson, Thomas Tu’avao and Franco Van Den Berg, among several others.

“There’s a lot of quality players within our forward group and it’s hard to single anyone out,” Cooper said.

Strong forward play will be key when taking on a Houston team that has proven to be one of the more physical squads within the MLR. The Warriors won both their games played versus the Sabercats last season, but both results were tough to come by with players understanding Saturday’s game should again prove a challenge.

“Physicality -- it’s a no-brainer with Houston,” Lasike said on what will be key in order for the Warriors to come away with a win on Saturday. “If we can win the physical battle, then we should be able to do our thing.”

Although the MLR season stretches clear to late June, Lasike believes this first game versus the Sabercats could prove pivotal in the team’s hopes of making the MLR playoffs and perhaps even winning a championship.

“It’s really important. It will be massive, really, to put our first one in the win column,” Lasike said. “It will set the platform for the rest of the season.”

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UTAH WARRIORS VS HOUSTON SABERCATS

TIME: 6PM MST

WHERE: SABERCATS STADIUM, Houston, Texas

HOW TO WATCH: FS2