Official team vs Tigers

[hitman82]

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10751461

He might have witnessed his side produce their worst performance of the year but Warriors coach Ivan Clearly has remained faithful to his players and made only one forced change for Friday's must-win playoffs match against the Wests Tigers.
Krisnan Inu will start at centre for the Warriors, replacing Joel Moon who broke his leg in Saturday night's 40-10 loss to the Brisbane Broncos. Moon, who is off contract at the end of the season, had surgery on the leg on Monday and has remained in Australia.
Cleary called that performance against Brisbane an "aberration'' and expected his side would be much better against the Tigers. The Warriors talked about being over-confident against the Broncos but that won't be an issue against a side riding high after nine consecutive wins.
Inu was unlucky to miss out on a starting spot against the Broncos after scoring a double the previous week against the Cowboys but made way for the returning Manu Vatuvei. He's had an in-and-out season, playing in 15 matches and scoring 10 tries, but most of those starts have come on the wing.


Inu had one outing at centre against the Bulldogs, when he had a poor game, but he's played a large part of his NRL career in the centres and is comfortable with the role.
Captain Simon Mannering admitted he was feeling the effects of a long season but declared his leg injury wouldn't prevent him playing.

 

[hitman82]

1. Locke
2. Tupou
4. Brown
3. Inu
5. Vatuvei
6. Maloney
7. Johnson
8. Rapira
9. Heremaia
10. Lillyman
11. Mateo
12. Mannering (c)
13. Luck

Bench:
Hohaia, Matulino, Packer, Ta'ai

 

[devoid]

Hmm... no updates on Berro?

 

[hitman82]

Hmm... no updates on Berro?

Berrigan is still out injured.

Ta'ai better start. Starting Mateo instead of Ukuma remains such a backwards tactical decision.

 

[devoid]

I like the idea of both Mateo and Ta'ai coming from the bench, myself.

 

[Meth]

Let's be honest- that team is a lot better than what we were thinking it would be on the weekend

 

[Izz]

Damn Herald. Inu played centre against the Cows, not the Dogs.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Okay with me getting over myself finally we should make a game of this
If we go out like pansies then so be it, I feel we are team that's almost there just need Bluey class to top it off

 

[northmanlywarrior]

I think id rather taylor than brown in the centres just my opinion

 

[TurtleWarrior]

I think id rather taylor than brown in the centres just my opinion

You're not alone.
In saying that I also wouldn't have minded Mannering going to centre with Brown or Steve Rapira playing second row.

 

[Warrior@Heart]

Brown & Tupou vs Lawrence & Tuqiri, bit of a mismatch.

 

[The European Polynesian]

Brown & Tupou vs Lawrence & Tuqiri, bit of a mismatch.

Lawrence is awesome, but could have a few cobwebs if he even plays. Tuqiri is shithouse.

 

[Micistm]

It's all or nothing this week, and I hope they play like that. I can handle going out, if they leave the Tiggas one hella sore and working for the win. But I have a good feeling they will be out to make serious ammends for last week. Whether thats just wishful thinking remains to be seen. But...Good hunting! ;-)

 

[Rich102]

"Cleary called that performance against Brisbane an "aberration'' and expected his side would be much better against the Tigers. The Warriors talked about being over-confident against the Broncos but that won't be an issue against a side riding high after nine consecutive wins."

If this was the case, and it looked like it, then Cleary is a poor excuse for a coach.He should have had them fired up and expecting that. No way they should have been over-confident.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

Cleary has never really settled on our two starting props.
If I remember correctly Packer and Matulino where our starting props during out late season (post last bye) run and did a good job. Wonder how this affect them, one week starting then next few off the bench, its a whole different mentality.

Brown is not a centre, he is a hooker/utility and had some good leg drive. Would prefer to see Taylor who can tackle.

If Mannering can do a job on Benji like he did Thurston it would be great.

Inu and Vats on the same side of the field???
Brown and Tupou look in trouble, tigers will be running to their left all night!

The shouldnt be over confident this week, lost to tigers last 3 times we have played.

 

[ozenzud]

I am very scared as to what the Tigers will do to our flanks.

Inu and Manu defensively are a worry. Brown was an absolute turnstyle last week and while I rate Topou, its not for his defence.

What are the tigers strengths? Obviously Benji, but Benji running riot, along with Lui, throwing wide passes to the Tigers centres. Their centres are their second strength, after Benji.

Warriors have been playing a compressed defence all year, with Wingers coming in and defending out. Topou and Manu have been caught too far infeild, too often all year. And that was with relatively good defensive centres (Berrigan and Moon) inside them.

Whats going to happen with Inu and Brown?

We carved them up the middle in that last game in round robin, before Lawrence cut loose down that right side........

Hohaia summed it up on Radiosport. He said it was about limiting their opportunties with the ball. I do not think we will be able to defend the Tigers. We'll have to rely on structure to grind them out. Thats not our strength but.

On paper, bloody hard to see how we can win this.

Who is going to play centres next year?

 

[Fast Eddie]

Ropati and anyone else.

 

[Izz]

Ropati and Ranger...

 

[hitman82]

Haha, has anyone heard more about the Ranger rumour? Man it'd be interesting to see him in Warriors colours, as much as I dislike the idea of "late" converts.

But yeah... Ropati and I have NFI... maybe Hurrell, Maybe Inu... I don't know what Bluey has planned. But I hope he has a plan...

 

[Penrose Warrior]

No way they should have been over-confident.

Yeah...I read Mateo saying this. Over-confident in a finals match against a side who finished 3 places higher than you, who had beaten you 4 weeks previously on their ground? Wow.

Sheens says he won't be targeting Manu...I wonder. I know the Tigers don't go to the high ball, as their wingers aren't exactly adept at it, but you'd be silly not to wouldn't you?