Manly V Warriors Cross Tasman Battle

[t-ba]

People still post on MWSE?

I can take a loss to the Warriors at Mt Smart. It'd plunge us right under the radar again at the right time of the season. We'd be completely written off.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

Well, all the best Sea Eagles fans.

Should be a great game.

 

[Cletus]

I can see the ownership train running us over in this one. Should be a great game though, I'd say they'll be targeting Witt's defence.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Most tackles by any 5/8th this season. Only 6th on most tackles missed by 5/8ths even though he has played more games than most other people on the list. Have a crack I say.

 

[gong_eagle]

Warriors face biggest test of 2007: Fien

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

http://nrl.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/6730/Default.aspx


Hooker Nathan Fien rates the upcoming clash with Manly as probably the New Zealand Warriors' biggest match of their NRL season.
The sixth-placed Warriors host the high-flying Sea Eagles on Sunday, a week after they missed the chance to cement their place in the finals with an upset loss away to Canberra.
With two rounds to go, they are now in the volatile position of being able to finish as high as third or missing out on the finals altogether.
"It's probably our biggest game of the year," Fien said.
"Everyone started talking about the semifinals last week and we're not there yet.
"It's our last match in front of our fans and we want to put on a good performance against a quality side."
The Warriors will have a huge crowd supporting them at Mt Smart Stadium, where their recent record is a good one.
They have won their last four at the venue, scoring 180 points and conceding just 46.
"We've always said we want to turn this place into a bit of a fortress," Fien said.
"We started off really well this year at home, winning the first three. We had a bit of a slump in the middle, but we're going really well again at home."
Manly also suffered a surprise defeat in the last round, going down to South Sydney on Monday night.
While that result made it unlikely that the Sea Eagles will overhaul Melbourne for the minor premiership, they are guaranteed to finish the regular season as runners-up.
Their situation has led to speculation that coach Des Hasler might shield some of his top players from a tough road trip across the Tasman.
Fien conversely believed Hasler - who on paper at least has indicated that he will field his top line-up - might use the match as a preparation for the play-offs.
"It's going to be a good test for them," he said.
"They've secured their semifinal spot and we've been playing some pretty good football at home lately.
"I dare say they will be approaching it as a match to tune themselves up for semifinals football."
Fien said ball security was an area the Warriors were working on after their 26-24 defeat to the Raiders, which broke a five-match unbeaten run, and they also wanted to lift their intensity.
"They're probably the concerning things to come out of the game," he said.
"It's always a tough trip going to Canberra, but there's no excuses and we're looking to bounce back this week."
Fien has had a battle with George Gatis over the season for the No.9 jersey, and he has had the nod over the last couple of weeks, with Gatis coming off the bench.
He said competition was restricted not just to dummy-half, but went right through the team.
"A lot of our squad have been injury-free this year so we've had our full complement of players to pick from, which has obviously created a lot of competition," he said.
"That could be a reason why we've been going so well. Everybody has to be playing on a good quality level because there's someone else there to step in and do the job."
Source: AAP

 

[gong_eagle]

Sportal Preview: Warriors v Sea Eagles

http://sportal.com.au/default.aspx/league-match-preview-display/preview-warriors-v-sea-eagles-33998

Venue & Time: Mt Smart Stadium, 12:00pm AEST, Sunday August 26

Head To Head: Played 12, Sea Eagles 7, Warriors 5

Last Time: Eagles 13 - Warriors 10 at Brookvale Oval, round 4, 2007

Walking Wounded
Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon returns to the side after missing last week with an ankle injury in the only starting line-up change from round 23.
The Sea Eagles will again be without centre Steve Matai (neck), but Townsville-bound five-eighth Travis Burns (back) is hopeful of a run after being named on a seven-man bench for the second week in a row. Skipper Matt Orford returns in the No.7 jersey after missing last week's match through injury.

Form:
A major hiccup in the Warriors' plans for a top-four spot last Saturday night when they conceded two tries in the final 10 minutes to go down to the Raiders at Canberra Stadium. It was uncharacteristic performance from the club, missing 40 tackles, effecting just one offload in the first-half and scoring the bulk of their tries from kicks. They have now lost three of their last four away games and have slipped to sixth spot on the ladder. They could still miss out on the eight with losses in their final two games against the Sea Eagles and Panthers.
The Sea Eagles had to do a mountain of defensive work in the opening 40 minutes against the Rabbitohs on Monday night and it took its toll in the second-half with the Bunnies scoring 18 unanswered points in that period to take the game. The worrying loss brought to end a six-match winning streak for the club and ruins just about any thought of the minor premiership heading to Brookvale Oval this season.

Who's Hot:
Warriors skipper Steve Price again led the way for his team, making 164m from 19 runs and 28 tackles. No forward from either Canberra or New Zealand came even close to matching his attacking stats on the night. Maligned winger Manu Vatevei was also strong, scoring a try and making a couple of line-breaks.
The Sea Eagles' best on Monday night was England-bound winger Chris Hicks, who showed great evasive skills and strength to score a 17th minute try against the Bunnies. He finished behind only fullback Brett Stewart as the leading metre-gainer for the side.

We Think:
Both sides should be primed for a big one in front of what is being tipped as a 25,000 sell-out Mt Smart Stadium crowd. The Sea Eagles will no doubt take a grinding game plan into this match that will go a long way towards unsettling the Warriors, who like to give the ball air. The return of Orford in the No.7 jersey will prove a massive boost for the club following the disappointment against Souths. Forget the Monday night curse in this one, the Sea Eagles will be pumped. Sea Eagles by 2.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

I can see the ownership train running us over in this one. Should be a great game though, I'd say they'll be targeting Witt's defence.

He's not as big a liability on defense as he was at the start of the year. They should just tire out the forwards first.

 

[gong_eagle]

Watmough won't rest

By Dean Ritchie

August 23, 2007

http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22290629-5006066,00.html

MANLY forward Anthony Watmough has declared he does not want or need a rest going into the finals.

There have been suggestions Des Hasler might rest players but the Manly coach said he would only stand down injured players for Sunday's match against New Zealand in Auckland.

Prop Brent Kite, who has played 56 games in the past two years, is carrying niggling injuries and may withdraw.

Watmough, though, is desperate to play on as Manly hunt their first premiership since 1996.

"There are some whispers around about Des resting players but my body feels good and I don't have any niggling injuries," Watmough said.

"If given the option then I'd definitely prefer to play.

"Normally by this time of year you can't wait until it's all over but I feel like it's the start of the season.

"Playing football is our job, it's what we do. We love it and no one wants to sit out a game."

Hasler said that only fully fit players would travel across the Tasman.

Asked would he rest players, Hasler said: "Only if they're injured. We don't want to lose momentum but we do have a few busted (injured).

"But if they are fully fit and they can run, then they'll play.

"I'm not against resting players but I'm not a fan either."

Manly led 18-6 at halftime against South Sydney on Monday night before the Rabbitohs surged home to secure a 24-18 victory.

"We have struggled in the past few weeks so a couple more games and we should click," Watmough said yesterday.

"We're nearly where we want to be but there is always room for improvement, especially at this time of year.

"Momentum is important at this stage of the season."

Hasler has named injured pair Matt Orford (leg) and Luke Williamson (shoulder) in a 20-man Sea Eagles squad to play the Warriors.

Both were late withdrawals from the six-point loss to Souths.

 

[gong_eagle]

 

[gong_eagle]

Injury to Matai rules him out
By AARON LAWTON - Sunday News | Sunday, 26 August 2007
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sundaynews/4178516a19773.html

New Zealand's Sea Eagles star Steve Matai is virtually no chance of suiting up and squaring off against the Warriors this afternoon.

Matai was part of the Manly squad that flew into Auckland on Friday ahead of this afternoon's clash at Mt Smart Stadium.

But yet to recover from a bulging disc in his neck, the Kiwis centre believes he may have to go under the knife in the next few weeks if there is little improvement.

"(Coach) Des Hasler just thought it would be good for me to get a change of scenery and to come home and see the parents and family for a little while," Matai told Sunday News.

"I'm very grateful to Des and the staff for that."

Matai left the field clutching his neck in round 20 against the Eels and said there was a good chance he would not play again this year.

"My neck's not too bad. It's improving slowly but all I can do is just get treatment and hopefully it settles down," he said.

"I'm getting some light rubs from the physio and immobilising the neck.

"I've spoken to the doctor about it and he's said that at the end of the year we might have to do something surgically on it.

"If it settles down we won't have to so I'm really hoping it comes right."

While desperate to taste finals football this year, Matai said he would not risk his playing future by rushing to return from what is a serious injury.

"There's a big chance I might not play again this season but I'm not going to rush back just to play a grand final," he said.

"The boys are playing really well without me so I'm in no hurry to get back."

If he undergoes surgery, Matai is considered no chance of joining the Kiwis on their end of year "All Golds" tour to the United Kingdom.

"I think it will be eight weeks before I can start running so I'm basically going to be out for the whole off-season," he added.

"I'll be able to start fresh in the pre-season.

"I don't know if I will be in the picture for the Kiwis anyway because I haven't been playing for a while.

"It's always an honour to represent your country and I don't want to miss the opportunity to do that."

Matai boarded the plane with his team-mates for Auckland on Friday but is not expected to play due to a neck injury.

And despite the fact Manly have little to play for, the centre said it was important to return to the winners' circle after last week's loss.

"The Warriors are always tough to play at home especially when it's in front of a sell-out crowd this Sunday," Matai said.

"I think the boys are going to try and grind the game out. Once we come into the semis all the games are going to be tough like that.

"The frustrating thing for me is that I'm on the sideline and I want to be part of the side that's going so well.

"The boys are being pretty level-headed and we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves."

Matai said he had been texting close friend but on-field enemy Jerome Ropati in the build-up to the match and admitted he was disappointed not to be able to lay a few hits on the in-form centre.

"I was texting Jerome a bit and just giving him hell," Matai said.

"The Warriors are a funny group of guys. You give it to them and they give it back. I'm disappointed that I can't play this weekend in front of a sell-out crowd.

"I was talking to my mates earlier in the week and they were telling me that it was already sold out. I'll be strapped for tickets this weekend."

 

[Sam_the_man]

anyone know the capacity of Mt Smart now ?

26500 if i remember rightly.