R21 Sun - ROOSTERS v WARRIORS *Match Thread* Game of the Year

[Timmah]

Sydney Roosters v Warriors
Sunday 5 August, 2:00pm
SYDNEY FOOTBALL STADIUM, MOORE PARK NSW
TIX > Ticketek.com.au
LIVE on FOX, Live on ABC Radio (First Half) LeagueUnlimited LIVE UPDATE

SHAYNE HAYNE
Sideline Officials: Michael Jones, Rod Lawrence; Video Referee: Sean Hampstead

Sydney Roosters
Sam Perrett, Amos Roberts, Mitchell Aubusson, Joel Monaghan, John Williams, Braith Anasta, Craig Wing, David Shillington, Heath L'Estrange, Lopini Paea, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon, Ashley Harrison
Int - Danny Nutley, Nate Myles, Setaimata Sa, Shane Shackleton, Iosia Soliola (one to be omitted)

Warriors
Wade McKinnon, Michael Crockett, Jerome Ropati, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, George Gatis, Steve Price (c), Ruben Wiki, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck
Int - Wairangi Koopu, Epalahame Lauaki, Evarn Tuimavave, Nathan Fien


Gates open 12:00pm
JERSEY FLEGG > Sydney Roosters v Canberra, 12:10pm

Elsewhere
PREMIER LEAGUE > Newtown v Auckland at Henson, 3:00pm Sat​

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

my heart says roosters but logic says warriors. it's hard to go past warriors on their form but the boys seem rejuvinated under freddy. either way, if both teams bring last weeks form it'll be match of the round! our rejuvinated defence and warriors ruthless attack, f**k i can't wait. i'll be out there MAKE SURE YOU OTHER ROOSTERS SUPPORTERS GET OUT THERE TOO!!! FIRE UP YOU SOFT c**ks!!

 

[Timmah]

Absolutely, it'd be good to see the Roosters get a decent crowd against a traditionally low-draw team.

 

[gong_eagle]

Roosters v Warriors preview

Wednesday, August 1, 2007 - 1:37 PM
Couldn’t be more even on paper – two sides in full flight with three wins on the trot apiece.
But their positions on the ladder tells the real story, with the Warriors on target for a top-four berth while the Roosters have their wings crossed they can win every game in the run home to sneak into the finals zone.
Brad Fittler has worked wonders since assuming command three weeks ago, guiding his troops to unlikely wins over the Sharks, Knights and table-topping Storm.
Those three wins equal the best start by a caretaker coach in NRL history, with Fittler joining Peter Sharp who achieved the mark in 1999 with Manly.
Meanwhile the Warriors have been devastating over the past three weeks, annihilating the Dragons 44-16, whipping the Wests Tigers 28-16 and demoralising the Knights 52-10.
Those victories have seen them build an impressive +111 points differential – crucial in this year’s tight race – and they now sit ahead of four other teams on 22 points.
A win here will get them not just the competition points but consolidate their differential and their hold on a top-four spot.
Another milestone looms for Craig Fitzgibbon – he needs just two goals to reach 600 for his career. And Roosters forward Nate Myles plays his 50th NRL game.
Watch out Roosters: It’s going to be a tough attacking and defensive task this week.
The Warriors have the best defence of any NRL team over the past five weeks; last week their forwards pack missed just a combined three tackles all game.
And they can – and do – score tries from anywhere. And the Warriors are the most lethal long-range attackers in the comp, scoring an NRL-high18 four-pointers from 50 metres or more.
Watch out Warriors: Brad Fittler has energised the Roosters and has them playing passionate, committed footy – apart from being undefeated the club has scored 12 tries, made 24 line breaks and 133 tackle breaks (an average 44.3 per game) under Freddie compared to only 43 tries (2.6 per game) and 445 tackle breaks (28.4 per game) for the 16 games under Chris Anderson.
Ivan Cleary would be telling his troops to avoid getting cocky – Fittler starred in the Roosters’ biggest head-to-head win over the visitors, a 58-6 thumping at the SFS.
Where it will be won: Defence close to the line.
While the Warriors are long-range marvels, they’re equally as damaging close to the opposition try line, having scored 32 of their 76 tries from within the 10-metre zone.
The Roosters need to muscle up because they are brittle up close, having leaked 39 four-pointers in this region – the third most tries conceded in the NRL.
But it’s also a weakness for the Warriors, who have yielded 32 of the 61 tries scored against them inside 10 metres.
Obviously whoever keeps errors to a minimum and keeps their opponents outside their 10-metre zone will go a long way to gaining the upper hand – although given the Warriors’ length-of-the-field prowess they still hold the advantage.

The History: Played 20; Roosters 9, Warriors 11. Honours are even three apiece over the past six games although the Warriors have won the past three decisively, including the past two at the SFS where the record stands at five games each.
Conclusion: It will be a different Roosters side to the one the Warriors defeated twice last year.
The mixture of youth and experience is gelling for the tri-colours.
Craig Fitzgibbon is arguably the most inspirational captain in the comp – he leads the NRL tackle count with a massive 752 in 2007 (63 ahead of the second-placed Michael Luck from the Warriors) and was largely responsible for bustling the Storm into missing 48 tackles last week, including 20 in the first half. It was the Storm’s third-worst defensive effort in their past 52 games.
Craig Wing is out to make the most of his last handful of games for the Bondi club – last week he made 13 runs for 111 metres, 23 tackles and nine tackle breaks.
Look for him to lead the way again.
But the Warriors are looming as serious premiership contenders.
If that’s to continue they can’t afford to slip up against a team that many still consider novelty value at this late stage of the competition.
Line breaks are their specialty – they added 11 against the Knights last week, with the likes of Manu Vatuvei (11 runs for 190 metres, 2 line breaks and 8 tackle breaks, plus a 95-metre try) swooping on the spoils.
Should be an entertaining game, but one that brings Freddie’s fairytale coaching start to a sad ending. For his sake, let’s just not hope it doesn’t develop into a horror story.
Match officials: Referee – Shayne Hayne; Sideline Officials – Michael Jones & Rod Lawrence; Video ref – Sean Hampstead.
Televised: FoxSports 3 – Live 2.00pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.

http://nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/6402/Default.aspx

 

[Mr Saab]

Roosters momentum vs the Warriors consistent performances the past 6 weeks.

Tough tough game.

Warriors by 8

 

[lockyno1]

Witty to ooze his class, Warriors by 13.

 

[Corbin]

Roosters by 1.

Its going to be a nail biter!

 

[Timmah]

Statistically speaking (Taken from Big League Magazine):

Head to head clashes (20)
WARRIORS 11
Sydney Roosters 9
At Sydney Football Stadium (10)
5-all!

Last meetings
Warriors 42-16 at Mt Smart, Warriors 22-12 at SFS, 2006

Big wins
Sydney Roosters 58-6 at SFS, 2004
Warriors 42-16 at Mt Smart, 2006

Grand Finals
Roosters 30-8, 2002

Under Hayne
1 match (2005), Sydney Roosters 1 Warriors 0

 

[Rovelli]

A fair chance that the Broncos lose, to go along with losses by the Tigers and Bulldogs earlier in the round.

Thus, we Warriors could go 4th with a win here and a supreme F/A advantage over NQ.

And, more importantly, move within a game of sealing a playoff spot...our first since 2003.

Roosters are still in the mix, but I say that HAVE to win today to keep their hopes alive, given their awful F/A.

A four-match winning streak, and then a relatively soft draw coming home, could see them yet sneak in.

But their playoff hopes will die if they lose today.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

finals series is the last thing on our supporters minds. good quality football win or lose is the main priority. i'm off to the game now, should be a cracker! hopefully both teams bring their best

GO YOU MIGHTY CHOOKIES!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Timmah]

Jersey Flegg, first half Canberra 6 lead Sydney Roosters 4.

Yesterday's Premier League match went the way of the Auckland Lions 19-16 at Henson. See www.newtownjets.com for details.

 

[Timmah]

Roosters 10-6 over Canberra currently in Flegg.

 

[Timmah]

Roosters 14-6 now, 8 into the second half.

Soliola announced as the player to drop off the Roosters bench.

 

[Rovelli]

He was the 18th man.

Any word on the Warriors?

 

[Timmah]

No changes as far as I'm aware. As per program I think

 

[Timmah]

Fulltime in Flegg, Canberra 28 d Sydney Roosters 26

 

[Tipster]

Warriors to win today, hottest team in the league right now

 

[DragonPunk]

did the commentator mess up with the Warriors and say 6 outta 7 losses and going to the top 4

 

[pantherz9103]

did the commentator mess up with the Warriors and say 6 outta 7 losses and going to the top 4

Yes he did and then Gary Freeman just made up a word 'numera' occasions. Shocking.

 

[Tom Ace]

Try to Monoghan!