This should be very close
Just quietly, I think the Eels are the better side
However, home advantage for the Warriors is massive and as a result I think we should be very slight favourites
There are some real similarities between the sides in crucial areas- both have an exciting attacking fullback, a good front row, a strong hooker rotation, and a few question marks over the halves. Both have decent backrows, although the Eels have a bit of a wild card in Mateo- I think the workhorse Warriors backrow can hopefully nullify the Eels though. Both have decent benches as well.
The major difference is quite obviously Inu/Grothe/Smith/Tahu v Crockett/Ah Van/Mannering/Byrne. The main emphasis for the Warriors backs will be on defense- they are not exactly the most electrifying backs around sans Ropati and Vatuvei, so I don't expect us to attack much there. If we are to win, it will be up the middle- through both the forwards, and the little men running off them and from dummy half.
I don't expect a Warriors win to be particularly exciting, but it may well be hard fought and tense.e
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