Warriors v Sharks Preview
NRL.com
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=52418
Mt Smart Stadium
Saturday 7.30pm (5.30pm Syd)
THE Warriors run home intensifies here as they come up against a gritty Sharks side who still have a legitimate chance to win the minor premiership.
Currently in 10th position on the ladder, but equal in points with the sixth-placed Raiders, the Warriors have to continue winning to stay in touch, particularly because their poor 95 differential isnt going to help when finalists are decided.
Their win over the Broncos last weekend boosted their home record to 7-3 for the year but theyll need to improve it to be within striking distance of the other contenders.
A loss in this game could see them fall to 13th spot on the ladder, a hard place to come back from in the final few rounds.
Micheal Luck is out due to injury which means Ben Matulino will start in the second row, Logan Swann will shift to lock and Wairangi Koopu comes onto the bench.
They face a third-placed Cronulla team who is equal on points with both Manly and Melbourne but with a differential of just +29 compared to Manlys +230 and Melbournes +207 theyll need a slip up from those ahead to leapfrog into the top two.
A win in this match would all but confirm a home final for the Sharks, something they are desperate to obtain.
They come into the contest following another good win, this time over the Rabbitohs.
The only change to the squad is the addition of Paul Stephenson as an 18th man.
Watch out Warriors: Centre David Simmons might not be a big name in the NRL but he does get the job done for the Sharks and actually leads the NRL in intercepts.
When the Warriors attack towards him theyll need to make sure hes fully committed to the tackle before popping the pass.
Simmons is behind only Luke Covell and Ben Pomeroy in scoring tries for the Sharks.
Watch out Sharks: Wade McKinnon returned to the NRL last weekend and showed he can mix it with the best despite having missed the opening 21 rounds due to a knee reconstruction.
No doubt better for the run, McKinnon could be the attacking spark the Warriors need to crack the strong Sharks defence.
Last week against the Broncos McKinnon ran 22 times for 185 metres, broke seven tackles, produced an offload and scored a try.
What price an even better performance?
Where it will be won: Defence will be the key which gives the Sharks the edge.
Its well-documented the Sharks have offensive problems having scored just 61 tries, the least in the NRL, but the Warriors havent been overly prolific themselves with just 72 to their name.
A committed defence can hold the Warriors at bay and considering the Sharks have only let in 59 tries this season compared to the Warriors 91, the Cronulla boys are looking the goods in this department.
The Warriors need to be extra committed without Micheal Luck; the lock forward has made 801 tackles this season, more than any other player in the competition.
Too many Warriors forwards miss more than 10 per cent of their tackles, including the two replacements for Luck in Matulino and Koopu.
The History: Played 22; Warriors 10, Sharks 12.
The Sharks prevailed earlier in the season, winning 24-8 making it five of the past seven for the Shire boys.
But the Warriors hold a 6-4 advantage at Mt Smart Stadium.
Conclusion: The Sharks have a defence good enough to beat the Warriors but with the game being played in New Zealand and the fact a win is necessary for the home side to remain in the finals hunt its not a foregone conclusion, far from it.
The Warriors showed strong defensive vigour against the Broncos last week and theyll need the same this time around.
If they can provide it, they can win this match and keep the dream alive.
If they are loose like they have been at times, even the average Sharks attack will find the holes.
Match officials: Referee Tony Archer; Sideline Officials Chris James & Russell Turner; Video ref Graeme West.
Televised: Fox Sports 2 Live 5.30pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
