Round 13 Game Day

NZ Warriors vs Brisbane Broncos

Saturday June 4th

Mt Smart Stadium
5pm (NZT) 3pm (AEST)

Match Officials
Referee: Henry Perenara
Assistant Referee: Chris James

NZ WARRIORS

1. Tuimoala Lolohea         

2. David Fusitua                   

3. Blake Ayshford                      

4. Solomone Kata                          

5. Manu Vatuvei                                 

6. Thomas Leuleuai                                    

7. Shaun Johnson                                    

8. Jacob Lillyman

9. Issac Luke

10. Ben Matulino

11. Bodene Thompson

12. Ryan Hoffman

13. Simon Mannering

Interchange:

14. Nathaniel Roache

15. Sam Lisone

16. Albert Vete

17. Charlie Gubb

18. Ligi Sao

BRISBANE BRONCOS

1. Darius Boyd

2. Lachlan Maranta

3. Jack Reed

4. James Roberts

5. Jordan Kahu

6. Anthony Milford

7. Ben Hunt

8. Josh McGuire

9. Travis Waddell

10. Adam Blair

11. Alex Glenn

12. Sam Thaiday

13. Corey Parker

Interchange:

14. Jarrod Wallace 

15. Tevita Pangai Junior

16. Joe Ofahengaue

17. Kodi Nikorima

18. Herman Ese'ese

19. Jai Arrow

With the Warriors heading into this Round 13 clash fresh from the bye, supporters will be hoping for a vastly improved performance from the side that coughed up one of their worst displays in recent memory against the Canberra Raiders in Round 11. 

After hearing reports that the players have held a crisis meeting in a bid to clear the air, allowing themselves to speak honestly and openly with each other in an attempt to put to bed whatever the underlying issues have been for recent below-par performances, one must feel that the penny has finally dropped within the playing group.  I think it's a fair assumption to suggest that player power has been a long term issue within the ranks.  Now that they've had a line drawn in the sand by senior figures within the club, that's hopefully sending out a crystal clear message that poor performances will not be tolerated, it may finally be clicking that throwing your toys about as a player isn't going to work anymore, you either step up to the plate or walk out the door.

In years gone by, you could almost put your house on the line betting on the Warriors to win with them being in a similar position. Unfortunately, from what we've seen so far, 2016 doesn't seem to be one of those years where we ride that roller coaster and manage to bounce back like a team possessed after a poor outing. 

Looking at the team on paper, this would have to be as close to full strength as we can get. It's vital that our big names turn up to play tomorrow and are switched on from the very first whistle. It is critical to our performance that our forward pack earn their money this weekend, Matulino, Lillyman, Hoffman, Mannering and Thompson need to be battle ready and get over the advantage line from the first set to allow Luke, Johnson and Lolohea to work their magic. Without the ball in hands we must remember that defence is the first form of attack. Who remembers a few years back when we would drive defenders back with every tackle? We need that mongrel again! We need to see a side who trusts one another and we need to see a side that will put their body on the line, time and time again, purely so they don't let their brothers down.

Our left edge gets a little bit of normality back to it with Manu Vatuvei rejoining the team after being away on medical/personal leave as well as the inclusion of Solomone Kata who returns from his week long suspension. 

Manu might be a man best avoided if you're in Broncos colours for this game.  He'll be out to prove the doubters wrong, regain the faith from those who have lost it and will send his apology to family, team mates, fans, officials, sponsors and all those he feels he let down, the only way he knows how, by letting his footy do the talking. 

The Broncos are odds on favourites for this one but that's just how the Warriors like it.  The expectations will be low and an upset the furthest thing from any Rugby League tragic's mind. The Warriors will have a point to prove in front of their home crowd and with the inclusion of a couple of superstars back into the Warriors line up and the short turn around the Broncos Origin players have been forced to face, an upset is well and truly on the cards. Brisbane have only managed 1 win from their last 5 outing at Mt Smart, lets hope that's about to be 1 from 6.

Warriors by 4 in what could well be looked back upon as a season defining moment.

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Round 11 Game Day

NZ Warriors vs Canberra Raiders
Saturday 21st May
Yarrow Stadium, New Plymouth
7.30pm (NZT), 5.30pm (AEST)
Match Officials: Referee - Grant Atkins 
Assistant Referee - Matt Noyen

1. Tuimoala Lolohea

2. Jonathan Wright

3. Blake Ayshford

4. Matt Allwood

5. David Fusituá

6. Thomas Leuluai

7. Shaun Johnson

8.Jacob Lillyman

9. Isaac Luke

10. Ben Matulino

11. Bodene Thompson

12. Ryan Hoffman (c)

13. Simon Mannering

Interchange

14. Jazz Tevaga

15. Sam Lisone

16. John Palavi

17. James Gavet

18. Toafofoa Sipley

1. Jack Wighton

2. Edrick Lee

3. Jarrod Croker

4. Joseph Leilua

5. Jordan Rapana

6. Blake Austin 

7. Aiden Seizer

8. Shannon Boyd

9. Josh Hodgson

10. Paul Vaughan

11. Josh Papalii

12. Elliot Whitehead

13. Luke Bateman

Interchange

14. Kurt Baptiste

15. Jeff Lima

16. Clay Priest

17. Joseph Tapine

18. Sam Williams

19. Frank-Paul Nuuausala

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. 

The Warriors missed out on a golden opportunity to lift themselves into the top 8 last weekend against the Panthers. On the back of numerous unforced errors, which were unable to be defended on multiple occasions, the Penrith side took advantage and were able to convert those errors into points. The concerning thing with a high percentage of those tries leaked in by the Warriors was the absolute ease in which Penrith were able to penetrate their defense. Justin Morgan must be having absolute nightmares about trying to sort out this flimsy defensive outfit. 

Looking at how the ladder stands for this round, Canberra are the only side of the two who have a realistic chance of sneaking into the 8 at the completion of the round. The Warriors for/against is (un)suprisingly the thing that would likely see them finish as high as 9th position with a win today.

Simon Mannering makes a welcome return to first grade from injury this week while Kata sits out due to suspension. Matt Allwood is the man to come into the side to take Kata's place. If you listen closely you can hear the Konrad cheerleaders sharpening their knives waiting for Allwood to make any mistake so they can all collectively say "i told you so".

Canberra will be without their work horse Shaun Fensom due to injury but look for Sia Soliola to be a late inclusion. 

Jono Wright and Matt Allwood are going to have to bring nothing less than their "A game" tonight as they face up against arguably the most lethal edge combination in the competition this season, Rapana and Leilua. 

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.

UP THE WARRIORS

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Round 10 Game Day

Penrith Panthers vs NZ Warriors
Saturday 14th May
Ami Park, Christchurch
3pm AEST

1. Matt Moylan (c)

2. Josh Mansour

3. Waqa Blake
4. Peta Hiku
5. Dallin Watene Zelezniak
6. Jamie Soward
7. Peter Wallace
8. Sam McKendry
9. James Segeyaro
10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard
11. Bryce Cartwright
12. Isaah Yeo
13. Trent Merrin

Interchange:
14. Tyrone Peachey
15. Jeremy Latimore
16. Leilani Latu
17. James Fisher Harris
18. Suaia Matagi

1. Tuimoala Lolohea

2. Jonathan Wright

3. Blake Ayshford

4. Solomone Kata

5. David Fusitua

6. Thomas Leuleuai

7. Shaun Johnson

8. Jacob Lillyman

9. Jazz Tevaga

10. James Gavet

11. Bodene Thompson

12. Ryan Hoffman (c)

13. John Palavi

Interchange:

14. Issac Luke

15. Ben Matulino

16. Charlie Gubb

17. Shaun Lane

Referee: Matt Cecchin

Assistant Referee: David Munro

Over the years the Panthers slightly hold the advantage over the Warriors in the head to head department, with a total of 34 games being played between the two sides, Penrith winning 18 and Warriors 15 with the solitary draw thrown in. Penriths winning percentage isn't quite as strong when they fly across the ditch but that shouldn't be an excuse to take this side lightly.  Over the last 2 years Penrith have managed to notch up 3 victories to the Kiwi outfits 1.

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. 

 Penrith will head into today's fixture with a spring in their step combined with a self belief that they can match it with any side in the comp. Their results have shown exactly that, with their biggest loss coming in Round 1 by 8 points courtesy of the Raiders. As you delve deeper into their 2016 season results it shows just how easily they could be much higher on the ladder having lost 3 games by 2 points and 1 by 5. The argument to that is they could be going much worse, having won 2 games by 1 point and 1 game by 2 points. 

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.

The Warriors will need to be wary with their emotions and be sure to keep them in check. Penrith are a side that know how to hang in and make you pay when you begin to let discipline and concentration slip, which is a trait that Cappy will be hoping has been left behind in Auckland. 

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.

Warriors by 14

FAITHER