Finals Week 2 vs Warriors - 4:05pm Sunday 20th of September - Eden Park

[Macca89]

Dolphins had flegler to a HIA but seeing as they won he should be right for their prelim. Have a couple on report.

Warriors lost Ford to an ankle injury and he didn’t come back on. Reckon Pompey gets suspended but I think the rest will play next week.

 

[Hughburt6]

Heard Leka and ford in doubt for next week

 

[mullenmagic]

Halasima ruled out in the warmup too. A hamstring strain bad enough to rule him out in the warmup before a finals game would be unlikely to be healed a week later, but maybe they feel the pressure and risk him.

 

[Les Misérables]

Tuaupiki looked to be limping too

 

[Hard Yards]

Tuaupiki looked to be limping too

CHT and Laban as well. Khan Peirera could be in strife for the kung-fu kick too

 

[sherpa]

Interesting to note that the ref seemed to put the whistle away for the last twenty minutes which allowed the Dolphins to get back into the game.

 

[mozza]

What day will the game be played?

 

[Vagabond89]

What day will the game be played?

Friday I would assume, only factor that might change it is that they might be reluctant to give NZ a 10pm local time kick off.

 

[Celticman98]

Friday I would assume, only factor that might change it is that they might be reluctant to give NZ a 10pm local time kick off.

Last year in the 2nd week of finals, the games were played on Saturday and Sunday. So I'd guess it will be the same this year.

 

[Wagyu Patty]

It’s 2023 all over again! Discuss!

Really liked what Gamble did against the Raiders, hopefully he can back it up. Though Fitzgibbon is gonna have his work cut out for him defending against SJ.

Sucks that we'll be without Hastings but Clune has shown he's a solid enough backup that if we get on top he can steer us home.

 

[mozza]

We’ll have more energy than 2023. That Raiders game took so much out of us. The extra 10 minutes especially. A longer turnaround for us and a shorter one for them will make a difference.

Not sure if can win but I’m certain we’ll make a game of it.

 

[Vagabond89]

Last year in the 2nd week of finals, the games were played on Saturday and Sunday. So I'd guess it will be the same this year.

Just double checked and I stand corrected. Given its the Wahs, could be Sunday?

 

[Tim]

Dolphins had flegler to a HIA but seeing as they won he should be right for their prelim. Have a couple on report.

Warriors lost Ford to an ankle injury and he didn’t come back on. Reckon Pompey gets suspended but I think the rest will play next week.

Pompey suspended would be bad for us IMO. He would get carved up by our edges I reckon. I really hope he plays as hes their weakest link atm.

 

[jamesgould]

Halasima ruled out in the warmup too. A hamstring strain bad enough to rule him out in the warmup before a finals game would be unlikely to be healed a week later, but maybe they feel the pressure and risk him.

Yep just seen an NZ article saying he’s unlikely to play, which is huge for us.

 

[Belly7]

Big difference from 2023 is that Ponga had no confidence going into that game with he’s shoulder to now prob having the most confidence he has ever had after the way he played Friday

 

[jamesgould]

Game is being played at Eden Park, that takes away a bit of the Mt Smart cauldron advantage for the Warriors.

 

[101k]

Big difference from 2023 is that Ponga had no confidence going into that game with he’s shoulder to now prob having the most confidence he has ever had after the way he played Friday

Seems to me that KP preserves himself to a certain extent throughout the year. We rarely see the flashy step and fend from him during the season which is what he was known for earlier in his career and probably still is but in our last two finals games, we’ve seen those abilities come out in bunches.

Understandable he has probably gone away from that skill set due to the wear and tear of doing it each and every week but it’s been a good reminder of just how much he has in his game.

When the Skip is full of confidence and applying himself like that, we are a chance against anyone

 

[Apey]

This year is nothing like 2023 honestly. Completely different attitude from our team, they're not in a purple patch - theyre just good, and the opposition is limping.

I'd be very surprised and disappointed if we got blown off the park.

We're a good chance to win here.

 

[Alex]

Just saw that it's Sunday 6pm (NZ time)

 

[jamesgould]

Warriors have played six, lost five at Eden Park. But haven’t played there since 2014, so it’ll be a bit of an unknown for both sides.

Crowd is a long, long way from the action at that ground though. I really don’t rate it as a venue.