Hindy: Must stop sbw

[xr62nv]

We must stop Sonny

By Dean Ritchie
September 11, 2007
IT shapes as the best individual clash of the season and last night Parramatta star Nathan Hindmarsh declared he is ready to take down Sonny Bill Williams.

Hindmarsh will be handed the duty of containing the Bulldogs most feared footballer in Saturday night's blockbuster at Telstra Stadium. Williams plays on the right edge, Hindmarsh on the left - ensuring the pair will lock horns throughout the do- or-die final. "Sonny Bill is my benchmark - he is the one I want to compete against and play," Hindmarsh said.

The looming second-row battle has revived memories of the great one-on-one tussles between champion Parramatta and Canterbury players in the 1980s: Steve Mortimer v Peter Sterling, Brett Kenny v Terry Lamb and Ray Price v Paul Langmack. Asked his opinion on Williams, Hindmarsh said: "Sonny is the best forward in the world. I don't want to be brushed away like a fly. Sonny is still improving. He can get bigger, stronger and faster."

Hindmarsh said the Eels would go in with a definite plan about how to contain Williams. (When you are tackling Sonny) you just have to wrap up the ball. Players around you have to also defend well," he said. "If he throws those one-handed passes, you can get caught out. We need to go in in numbers. "We also have to escort his support players. With those one-handed passes, we need to be aware of players like Luke Patten coming through. If not, they'll be making breaks all night."

Hindmarsh said he was keen to play more like Williams. "I can't hold the ball in one hand like he does, but I'd like to try a few things he does," Hindmarsh said. "He plays with confidence and is always willing to try things. The Dogs are a different side with him there. "He may not yet have the impact of an Andrew Johns or Johnathan Thurston but he's not far off those blokes.

"It's do or die - neither side will be holding anything back." Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless believes Hindmarsh himself could be recognised as the game's premier forward. Cayless said of the Dogs: "They are a very imposing team and it will be a big assignment for us. The pressure keeps building. It's a great to be playing football at this stage of the year."

link : http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22396825-23214,00.html

 

[xr62nv]

Hindmarsh out to muzzle Williams



IT is the ultimate footballer versus the ultimate athlete, but former second-row greats predict Nathan Hindmarsh will need every ounce of his experience to overcome his star Bulldog foe, Sonny Bill Williams.

In a tantalising individual duel, Hindmarsh will be given the task of shutting down Williams in Saturday night's epic sudden-death finals match at Homebush. The tireless Eels veteran is in career-best form but forecast the enormity of the job when he labelled Williams the "world's best forward".

Hindmarsh plays on the left side of the field, Williams on the right - ensuring the pair will lock horns all game. The Daily Telegraph yesterday asked four great second-rowers - Paul Sironen, Bob McCarthy, Trevor Gillmeister and Mark Geyer - to rate Williams and Hindmarsh and the outcome of the clash.

"Nathan Hindmarsh has been a fantastic player for Parramatta but Sonny Bill is at his peak right now," Sironen said. "Sonny's been around for a few years now and has had a week off (through suspension) - he is ready to explode. "He is such an explosive player, like Nathan Hindmarsh was a few years back.

"But Hindmarsh does so much defensive work these days. Sonny Bill has it all - the big shots, the off-load - he will be a major concern for Parramatta. If he gets just off the ruck and runs at Tim Smith and Brett Finch, look out." Geyer though could simply not separate the two champion forwards.

"It's a good question - I can't split them," Geyer said. "I don't think the Eels can win the premiership without Nathan Hindmarsh and I don't think the Bulldogs can take the title without Sonny Bill. "Sonny Bill makes more of an impact but Hindmarsh does the cleaning-up, the tackling and the hit-ups. I just can't say who is better. Sonny Bill can do some scary things but every team needs a Nathan Hindmarsh."

McCarthy said the pair would put on a show for the huge crowd on Saturday. "The 50,000 fans that turn up are going to see some fireworks," McCarthy said. "Sonny Bill is the explosive runner, Hindmarsh the bloke who does all the hard yards and makes 50 tackles a game. "Hindmarsh's 50 tackles mightn't hurt you but he's still getting his man. Sonny Bill might do 15 tackles but they're all killers.

"They're different players. Hindmarsh doesn't make as many busts these days but he plays more a front-rower's role so that makes it difficult." Gillmeister, nicknamed The Axe, said the Bulldogs' confidence will lift with Williams back from suspension. "Everyone knows about Sonny Bill's off-loads but stopping them is another thing," Gillmeister said. "Nathan Hindmarsh is a different type of player - his workrate is enormous.

"Nathan can whack in defence too but he doesn't have Sonny Bill's shoulder charge. Sonny Bill will be fresh after a week off and will give the Dogs plenty of confidence."

Link: http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22396885-23214,00.htmlhttp://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,22396885-23214,00.html

 

[Pazza]

nathan did a good job on sonny last time they meet. knowing hindy, sonny isn't going to get a break all night

 

[Clarkieel]

ia ctually wouldnt be surprised to see wags markign him most of the game, his attack may not be great but defenseively i have seen him shut downt hte best of players

 

[Twizzle]

SBW is a pussy

 

[hineyrulz]

Hindy and the boys shut him down last game, lets hope they can do it again.

 

[Eelementary]

Doesn't really matter anyway - the Storm already have it in the bag, or so their fans seem to think.

Being confident is fine and all, but the arrogance displayed by some of their fans is simply off-putting, and for that reason alone I wish them the hardest, most heart-breaking Grand Final loss of all time.

 

[Bazal]

I'd rather we beat them ;-)

 

[jimmyo]

SBW is over rated. After Ryan's performance last week I'd be more worried about him.

 

[Smartman]

The whole Canterbury team is overrated.

All talk no action

 

[Redback71]

if we defend like we did against the warriors and attack like we did against the broncos we should win. I have question marks over Reddy at centre though and hope that changes at kick off.

 

[eels_fan_01]

ia ctually wouldnt be surprised to see wags markign him most of the game, his attack may not be great but defenseively i have seen him shut downt hte best of players

If wagon marks him, Sonny will end up with 3 trys. Hes past it.

 

[oldmancraigy]

After Ryan's performance last week I'd be more worried about him.

Don't worry about Ryan

He has only made a linebreak against 5 clubs this season, and two of those are the Knights and the Panthers (they played the Panthers mid season where they didn't even try). He just normally performs well against the Cowboys