We all remember certain Warriors games, some for different reasons. The very first game in '95. The grand finals in 2002 and 2011. That is just a few examples. But a round nine game against St George? Are you telling me in 10 years it's going to be a game you will remember? Most will say no, but that is a game myself and my wife will never ever forget! 
Play in the second half was tough but a Jeff Robson try after an hour sealed a 26-10 win for us. A great result after the disaster against Melbourne and having the naughty five stood down for this weeks game. 
NAME: GENE NGAMU
Simon is one of the few that has pulled on the Warriors jersey and worn it with pride and through his actions has shown the meaning of leadership, commitment, pride and courage on a weekly basis. Mannering regularly tops the tackle count throughout the competition at seasons end and has more often than not gone above the 1000 tackle mark for the season.
We're off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of Oz. Let's be honest, could the Wizard of Oz actually have the ability to give this Warriors outfit enough heart, courage and/or brains to help drag this side out of the depths of despair, prevent them from regularly showing no thought process that results in unforced errors and stupid penalties or perform a modern day miracle and give the side the courage to actually turn up for each other and hold an opposition team out instead of opening a path through their defense like they're fucking Moses? It's a pity those gale force winds weren't a little bit stronger and blown the team away to at least have a chat with the Wizard to see if he could actually do anything for us. Let's hope the team take the Yellow Brick Road back to Auckland.
We'll be in for yet another week of reading and hearing about how rubbish Cappy is and how he should be sacked and that we need to bring in a new coach. Does nobody else see the pattern that is forming within this organisation? We lose a few games, the players drop their bundle, the pressure valve shows no sign of being released and when results don't come it turns into a player power stand with the "we've lost faith in the coach" and allow him to fall on, not his own sword, but the one placed their by the players who have not only let the coach down, they've let themselves, fans, sponsors and staff within the entire organisation. For the players to say they've lost faith in a coach is a bit fucking rich in itself as they expect the fans to keep the faith with them. What coach do we bring in if Cappy is another victim of an under achieving Warriors outfit? We cannot afford to bring in another rookie we MUST hire someone who has a proven track record as a head coach in their NRL IF we decide to fold to the players, yet again, and look to another coach to wave his magic fucking wand. Harry Potter is about the only one who would have the magic to dig this team out of the hole they've dug themselves, unfortunately he is a fictional character. 
There might not have been too many positives to take out of the game but one in particular was the involvement of Sam Lisone. He went into beast mode tonight and needs to use those efforts as a level of expectations he should have on himself for the remainder of the season.
Both teams head into this Round 11 clash with 4 wins apiece, with the Raiders draw against the Newcastle Knights back in Round 3 giving the Canberra side the higher position on the NRL Ladder. Looking at the 2 sides rosters, i think Canberra would be relatively happy with the way they've been going while the Warriors would be feeling very disappointed with not just results, but effort!! On the flip side to that, Canberra's recent form has been rather ordinary having lost 4 of their last 5 games with the 1 victory in that period coming when they gave the Wests Tigers an absolute flogging in Round 8. 
Both sides can be very hot and cold and can be an absolute nightmare to support at times. It's hard to predict what side will turn up today from either camp, although i feel the Warriors may be travelling ever so slightly better based on current form. The trip across the Tasman has been a hurdle for the Raiders in the past and i think today will be no different. Look for Issac Luke to have an absolute blinder in front of his home town and take out the MOM award. Raiders might roll over in this one, Warriors by plenty.
This Flashback Friday we go not too far back and it involves the team we are playing this weekend in New Plymouth. The year in question is 2014 and when it comes to the Canberra Raiders its significant for three reasons. Two of those reasons are how we beat them by scoring 54 points (54-12 at Eden Park and 18-54 at GIO Stadium).
When it comes to Konileti "Konrad" Hurrell, supporters of the NZ Warriors rarely tend to agree on one another's personal opinion of the man. It's easy to find yourself scrolling through a Warriors Supporter Group/Page, stumble across a thread on Konrad and proceed to settle in for the next 10 or so minutes as you read through the inevitable shit storm that is unfolding in the comments section.
After starting off with a flawless opening couple of rounds 2TT had a bit of a stumble with her picks of the week and is less than impressed with the results. At the conclusion of Round 10 she decided to make herself feel better and she slipped into her loose fitting, silky nightie with her bottle of JD, energy drinks and prescription meds. As her concoction of self prescribed medications begun to take effect she recalled a childrens tale where a fella named Jack was given some magic beans. With this in mind and her burning desire to only support the best teams week after week, she decided to try her luck with her own magic bean. As she was flicking her magic bean her teams of the week popped out like the dildos she has crammed in her top drawer whenever it is opened and with one last flick her predictions became clear.
Coming up against a team that had gone through the week that they had faced is never an easy task and history suggests that facing a side that's been dealt a cruel blow to their season is not an enjoyable time (remember the Storm vs Warriors game after a similar situation). South Sydney would have gained plenty of self belief from that victory and to hang in until the death and win it at the end may just wake up the sleeping giant in this competition. They've got a star studded roster and that may well have been the kick start required to turn their season around.
This game is basically do or die for Parramatta. It's vital that they come away from this game with 2 competition points otherwise the task they face to feature in finals footy in 2016 is almost out of reach.
Both teams entered into this contest with the chance to consolidate their position in the top 8. Unfortunately for Warriors fans it is Penrith who now move up to 7th position while Cappy and his troops can potentially slip down to as low as 14th. When you're presented with your team facing such a daunting proposition, given the roster that they have at their disposal, it makes me, as a supporter, wonder when these "cheer leading" fans will put down the pom poms and quit pretending like mediocrity is an acceptable form of "professionalism" from the 17 blokes who run out on the field every weekend.
Considering the opportunity to climb into the top 8 for the first time in 2016, welcoming back both suspended and injured players, a sell out crowd with the assumption some of these first grade regulars position in the top side would be on thin ice after an under strength team came away with the spoils in their last start, they decided to dish up a flat performance which was compounded by unforced error after unforced error. Not to be outdone, a half back who seems to be more interested in making sure his hair is right before the game, judging by his sneaky look into the mirror and quick fix of his locks before the lads left the dressing sheds instead of being focused on the game at hand. Maybe he might have been aware that it was blowing an absolute gale tonight and been able to correct his kicking game accordingly. What i would like to know is why was there plenty of mention about Soward being out the day before practicing his kicks in the breeze while our playmaker was, most likely, at the local hair dressed tending to his do. It wasn't obvious at all which of the play makers entered the game with the best preparation.
These sides would be happy to forget the 2015 season, with both teams suffering a cruel injury toll that proved to be a mountain too steep to climb with Penrith not able to so much as leave the foot of the Blue Mountains while on the other side of the Tasman the cleaners were out in force and sweeping away anything that crossed their path. A player clean out at the Warriors was always on the cards with the arrival of their 2 major signings in 2016 but questions would have been asked and many a fans eyebrows raised when it seemed in certain instances the club were keeping players based on potential and a good season a few years back while showing the door to some of the hardest working and dedicated players in the competition. 
Fast forward to 2016 and some could argue that one side hasn't been able to be mentally strong enough to overcome last seasons failings. While the other side has shown a fight and determination to win, shown their mental strength in overcoming a part of the game that's not in their control and in doing so they haven't allowed a season ruined by injury to affect the way they approach and play the game this season. 
The NZ Warriors on the other hand offer us with a different prospect. The old saying "beware the wounded Beast" may ring true in more ways than one this afternoon. With an outside chance of Manu lining up on the wing as a late inclusion, it would be hard to imagine the man in any other sort of mood than Beast Mode if he takes his place on that left hand edge. Add to that Matulino and Thompson who are also going to be itching to make amends for their indiscretions along with the return from injury in the form of Tommy Leuleuai and Tui Lolohea, the Warriors side suddenly seems a very formidable opponent. A sell out crowd in Christchurch is going to give the boys a massive boost on the field. I get the feeling that the events surrounding the club in recent weeks will be the turning point of the season and the catalyst to propel us deep into finals footy.
Solomone Kata could well be a very big piece to the jigsaw puzzle in this fixture and the standard of his performance today could well be the key to the Warriors coming away with the Win or going home empty handed. Bryce Cartwright plays out on Kata's edge in defence and it has been no secret that we've been exposed down that flank plenty of times already this season. The importance of shutting down Cartwright could not be more important in today's game. If you're fractionally off with your D this man will show you up and make you look like a schoolboy, but it Kata can keep him contained and get enough ball himself to start sending traffic back to Cartwright that will take us a long way to victory.
