Warriors v Bulldogs Preview
Big League
http://nrl.com/News/Latest/tabid/10244/default.aspx?id=50477
WELL, well, well. If it isnt the old Warriors trick of hopeless one week, much better the next. After being totally inept against Manly in round three the Warriors turned it around to take down a committed Newcastle outfit and get things back on track or so it seems.
You see
what happens if the round three version turns up against a Bulldogs outfit hurting from their loss to the Roosters in their much-hypes encounter? What happens is further carnage.
But Ivan Cleary is confident the Manly match was just a write-off a game consigned to the dust bin, never to be revisited
Warriors fans can only hope.
The home side remains unchanged for the match against the Dogs, although Logan Swann has been named to start in place of young Sonny Fai who did so well against the Knights.
For the Bulldogs, Justin Tsoulos returns to the side for the injured Kane Cleal (groin) while Reni Maitua has been named as an extra man on the bench after serving his club suspension for being out on the drink to all hours a few weeks back.
Watch out Warriors: Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten is in sensational form and will need to be contained if the home side wants to win this game. Patten is a constant, sniffing around the rucks looking for offloads, and has deceptive pace once he sees a hole.
The Bulldogs lead the NRL in line breaks with 27 and if they start converting breaks to points then it could be goodnight. The Bulldogs custodian also features as the second man in the blue-and-whites attacking sweeps and chimes in at pace to keep the defence guessing.
Watch out Bulldogs: Usually its the Warriors who are being peppered with kicks but there will certainly be some action going the other way in this match. The Bulldogs have leaked seven tries (worst in the NRL) to kicks this season, most of which came last weekend as the Roosters dismantled the shorter Dogs wingers.
Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli will be sending many an aerial raid towards Hazem El Masri and Heka Nanai hoping for similar results.
Where it will be won: If the Warriors are to win this game they will need to do an excellent job on one man in particular Sonny Bill Williams.
The local Kiwi favourite will be fuming after last weeks loss to Willie Masons Roosters mores the pity for the Warriors. Williams will inject himself everywhere, particularly on the right side (their left defence) and up the middle.
His ability to beat bigger, slower forwards with impressive footwork should send alarm bells to Cleary and the Warriors mentor will no doubt be telling his big men not to be caught on their heels.
Williams promotes the football better than most, thanks to his enormous hands which allow him to grasp the ball in one hand and lift it up and over defenders.
The Warriors must hit him in numbers, but ensure someone is focussed on the ball, because if he offloads, overlaps will be created.
The History: Played 22; Warriors 8, Bulldogs 12, drawn 2. The Bulldogs have won the past six matches between the two sides; the last win for the Warriors came in 2003 in Sydney. The Warriors havent beaten the Dogs at Mt Smart Stadium since 2002.
Conclusion: A wounded Bulldog generally comes back harder and tougher than ever and because of this, and the sides impressive recent record in New Zealand, it could easily be a victory to the visitors.
But one can never discount the crafty Warriors, especially at home, and if they can frustrate the Bulldogs with determined defence, then Steve Folkes side may fall away, as they have a tendency to do so under such conditions. They are all too well aware of their inability to turn breaks into points and every time the Warriors repel them, their confidence will drop.
One of the tougher games of the weekend to tip, so wait until the last possible moment in case of team changes before making your selection.
Match officials: Referee Ben Cummins; Sideline Officials Phil Haines & Mohamad Fajajo; Video ref Phil Cooley.
Televised: FoxSports 2 Live 12pm (AEST)
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
