Experienced centre Jerome Ropati has been called into the starting team as the Warriors look to bounce back from a disappointing first-round NRL defeat.

Ropati’s inclusion ahead of Carlos Tuimavave to face St George Illawarra in Auckland on Saturday is the one change from the side who began the season with a 36-16 loss away to Parramatta.

Tuimavave had his nose broken when scoring a first-half try, but he was also on the side of the field where the Eels’ attack had plenty of early success.

Ropati, 29, is into his 12th season with the Warriors, but injuries have restricted him to just 15 NRL appearances in the past three years.

Coach Matthew Elliott says the former Kiwi has been pushing hard in the trials and in training.

“He’ll stiffen our right edge with his experience,” he said.

There is one change on the bench, with Ben Henry added to a five-man interchange.

The second rower and centre is coming back from a knee injury that cut short his 2013 season.

Elliott said there was plenty of determination within the Warriors to produce a big improvement at Eden Park.

“Our performance against Parramatta wasn’t what any of us saw coming,” he said.

“There was one team out there competing a lot harder physically than we did and that was the most disappointing aspect.”

St George Illawarra are backing up from a 44-24 win over the Wests Tigers.

They have also been the Warriors’ most difficult opponents, winning 16 of the sides’ 20 meetings.

The Warriors’ last success was a 44-16 result at Mt Smart Stadium in July 2007, when Ropati scored one of the home team’s seven tries.

Warriors: Sam Tomkins, Glen Fisiiahi, Dane Nielsen, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Jayson Bukuya, Simon Mannering (captain), John Palavi. Interchange (from): Jacob Lillyman, Suaia Matagi, Ben Henry, Feleti Mateo, Sione Lousi.