Round 4: Knights vs Warriors @ Mt Smart Stadium *Contains Spoilers*

I think the fact that the warriors did did flogged makes it a bit more dangerous for us. They'll want to get their confidence back and really take it to us. If our forwards rise to the challenge, again, we should come away with the win.
 
Well I thought the opposite, that maybe they'll be rocked and keep playing badly. Well I hope anyway ;)
 
I'd rather them have won last week, because when they lose they'd look into the loss deaper and why they lost. They would probably fix their problems more.. even though they'd watch the tape of the game either way.
 
One thing is for sure, Manu had a good game against Manly so no doubt he will turn in a bad performance against us, I predict us to score a minimum of three tries down his wing.
 
NRL Warriors call up Fai, Shortland
AAP

Sonny Fai and Ryan Shortland have been called into the Warriors' starting line-up for Sunday's NRL match against Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium.

Fai, 20, who was used off the bench in his debut against Parramatta and again in Monday night's 52-6 loss to Manly, will team up with Simon Mannering in the second row.

Mannering reverts to the back row after being used in the centres on Monday night which sees 174-game veteran Logan Swann, 33, named on a five-man bench.

Former Melbourne centre, Shortland, will make his Warriors debut and just his second NRL appearance with first-choice centre Jerome Ropati out for up to three games with ankle ligament damage.

Shortland, 22, who will become the club's 140th first-grade player, turned out for the Auckland Vulcans in their first two NSW Cup matches against Central Coast and Wentworthville before being added to the travelling party as 18th man for the Manly match.

The rest of the starting line-up remains the same from the side that was thumped by the Sea Eagles with Swann joining hooker Ian Henderson, prop Evarn Tuimavave and back rowers Epalahame Lauaki and Wairangi Koopu on the five-man bench.
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VODAFONE WARRIORS v NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

4.00pm, Sunday, April 6, 2008

Referee: Tony De Las Heras

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1
LANCE HOHAIA
2
PATRICK AH VAN
3
BRENT TATE
4
RYAN SHORTLAND
5
MANU VATUVEI
6
MICHAEL WITT
7
GRANT ROVELLI
8
SAM RAPIRA
9
NATHAN FIEN
10
RUBEN WIKI (c)
11
SIMON MANNERING
12
SONNY FAI
13
MICHEAL LUCK



Interchange (one to be omitted):

14
IAN HENDERSON
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
EPALAHAME LAUAKI
17
LOGANSWANN
18
WAIRANGI KOOPU
 
Frizzed said:
I rate Sonny Fai immensely definitely one to watch out for in the future.
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Took the words right out of my mouth, it must of been while you were ..... ummm ..... nevermind. :icon_redface:




But yeah, I totally agree. I rate Sonny Fai quite highly and think he's definately a player to watch for down the track.
 
Warriors v Knights Preview
Big League

Warriors v Knights
Mt Smart Stadium
Sunday, 4.00pm (NZ time)

THE Warriors will need to turn up with an entirely new attitude if they are to challenge the red-hot Knights on Sunday. Even coach Ivan Cleary was at a loss to explain the 52-6 drubbing at the hands of a previously winless Manly Sea Eagles side.

Their defence was abysmal, attack was unstructured and close to non-existent, while ball security was at an all-time low. The Warriors made 18 errors and conceded seven penalties to hand a glut of possession to Manly.

Conversely, Newcastle played in one of the best matches of the round, going down in a tense golden-point finish to the Eels. In their first loss of the season it was obvious after the game that coach Brian Smith was burning to have another crack this week.

Watch out Warriors: Kurt Gidley is on the loose. The Knights’ fullback has been the outstanding performer for Newcastle so far this season and gets his hand into everything. He is averaging a staggering 196 metres per game and is always sniffing around for the ball to find any chinks in opposition lines. He has made 65 runs this season, far more than any other Knight, and is lethal with the ball in hand, making 12 tackle breaks.

Watch out Newcastle: Based on last week’s performance Newcastle only have to watch and wait for the gaps in defence to open up in front of them, and it’s up to them to take full advantage.

But when the Warriors are on their game they have a Gidley-character of their own, though with far less consistency.

Winger Manu Vatuvei is hot and cold with his hands, however a 112kg winger is enough to scare any opposition. His bullocking runs make him a valuable member of the Warriors’ backline, despite already acquiring 10 errors for the year.

He consistently carries the ball up, averaging 156 metres per game, but more importantly will make about 13 metres on each run. He’s also made seven line breaks and 24 tackle breaks. Even Newcastle’s sizeable wingers are no match for Vatuvei’s athleticism.

Where it will be won: Defence will be the key in this game, and after last weekend, Newcastle holds the clear advantage in that area. The club has only missed 88 tackles, the fourth best in the NRL.

The Warriors are equal with the Cowboys as the second worst with 111 missed tackles, although a staggering 42 of those came last week against the Sea Eagles.

Newcastle are also among the top NRL clubs in metres gained from runs and kicks, while the Warriors are far behind, which means their forwards will have to work extra hard to pull them out of trouble when camped in their own 20.

The History: Played 20; Warriors 6, Knights 13, drawn 1. The last time these teams met was at Mt Smart Stadium and the Warriors easily dominated, winning 52-10. However Newcastle are traditionally strong over in New Zealand and have won seven of 11 games.

Conclusion: There is no doubt the Warriors will need to produce a complete turnaround from last week to compete with Newcastle.

The first two games of the year proved the Warriors are a sound attacking side, but they lacked structure last week. If that is fixed they can turn their attention to their defensive problem.

Newcastle will be seeking good metres from their forwards and potent backline.

Match officials: Referee – Tony De Las Heras; Sideline Officials – Russell Turner & Adam Devcich; Video Ref – Graeme West.

Televised: Fox Sports 2 – Live 2.00pm AEST.
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How can the Warriors still be favourite at $1.50 and the Knights at $2.50?
 
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