For the first time since 2005, the Warriors have begun their pre-season training without the ever imposing figure of club legend, Simon Mannering.
After 301 games with the Warriors, Mannering called time on his illustrious career at the end of the 2018 season, with his teammates noticing the versatile back-rower's absence ahead of 2019.
Speaking to media in Auckland today, five-eighth Blake Green noted the difference in the Warriors changing rooms without Mannering's influence.
"How do you comment on someone like Simon?" he began.
"He's a really popular figure in our team, a popular member of our club. My point of view's that he's probably the greatest Warriors that's played for the footy club.
"It's certainly different not having him around, he's got a calming, husky voice that we're not going to hear anymore.
"It's a tough one, he's obviously got a tremendous amount of big game experience, he's done it all in the game.
"But that's part and parcel of a footy club moving forward, you've got to roll with the punches sometimes, but people come in and take their place."
While Mannering will be nearly impossible for the Warriors to replace, coach Stephen Kearney today said that Isaiah Papali'i will be given the task of stepping into his legendary shoes.
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