Panthers V Warriors Preview
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
http://nrl.com/News/MatchReports/MatchReportsArticle/tabid/336/NewsId/6818/Default.aspx This is a
huge game, with
huge ramifications for the final make-up of this years all-important top four and possibly even the wooden spoon.
The equation is simple: a Warriors win will cement them a home semi-final, while a loss will throw lifelines to the Eels, Bulldogs and incredibly, the Rabbitohs who with wins will leapfrog the Kiwis. From there its a matter of who comes out with the highest points differential
but thats a whole different story.
Back to this clash: by the time the Warriors take the field theyll know whether the Bulldogs or Rabbitohs have edged ahead of them.
Similarly, the Panthers will know the result of the Wests Tigers v Knights game meaning theyll either know theyve already avoided the spoon or know that they have to win this to avoid the dreaded wooden cutlery.
Despite some brilliant recent form, they have a tough task here.
The Warriors have dropped just one of their past seven games. They disposed of the Sea Eagles in Auckland last week in a spirited display of expansive football, outscoring the visitors 24-4 in the second half.
Matthew Elliotts boys rocked the Roosters last week, dashing out to a 26-6 lead with 20 minutes to go before allowing the visitors back into the game most unlike the Panthers who have spent 2007 doing exactly that to their victors.
Theyve now won three of their past four and appear to have struck on some good combinations that will serve them will into 2008.
This will be an emotional game for 12-season Panther Craig Gower whos heading off to France to play rugby union next year.
Watch out Panthers: With Jerome Ropati injured Wairangi Koopu moves into the centres to partner Simon Mannering, and theyll make a devastating combination if their efforts from last week are repeated.
Kiwi rep Mannering was a rock out wide with 10 runs for 78 metres, nine tackle breaks, a line break, try and 15 tackles. But no-one was more impressive than Koopu who scored a double and ran 10 times for 128 metres, with five tackle breaks and two line breaks.
Watch out Warriors: Former Kangaroo Gower will be primed for a big one. He was warming ominously last week, with a stirring captains performance 21 kicks for 587 metres, eight runs for 61 metres and a try assist. That effort equalled the season most kicks and the Warriors can expect him to probe every inch and corner of his home turf, duck, weave and put supports through gaps one last time.
Where it will be won: Discipline, both in attack and defence.
The Panthers have been the most penalised team all year, with 164 infringements in defence.
By comparison the Warriors are only mid-range offenders with 136 penalties against. The six competition points aside, whats probably really excited coach Matthew Elliott recently is his sides apparent sudden ability to play tight last week they had their best completion rate of the season (84 per cent) and kept their offloads to a season-low two. Thats a heck of a drop on their season average of nearly 11.
It showed the whole team they dont have to play flash to score points, given they had 26 on the board with a quarter of the game to play. (Only one other team made as few offloads last week the Storm, who walloped the Bulldogs.)
The History: Played 20; Panthers 12, Warriors 8. The Warriors have won just two of the past eight clashes between the sides although they thumped the Panthers 54-14 in Auckland in round 15.
The Panthers head into this knowing they inflicted their worst ever defeat on the Warriors at CUA Stadium just last year a 36-6 thrashing, and have won their past three games against the Kiwis at home.
Conclusion: The emotion surrounding Gowers farewell appearance will keep the Panthers in this but if, as expected, the Tigers beat the Knights to gift them the wooden spoon there is a real risk theyll drop their intensity before they even take the field. That wont be good.
Meanwhile the Warriors will look to maintain their momentum, with another big game from their unheralded but crucial combinations at fullback, hooker and in the halves.
Wade McKinnon, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli and George Gatis have the least first grade experience of any finals outfit (just 269 games) but have been largely responsible for their late-season charge.
The quartet have combined for 80 games, 40 line breaks, 100 offloads, 23 line break assists, 567 runs, 264 tackle breaks and 330 kicks as well as 28 of the Warriors 96 tries.
Factor in the rampaging leadership of Steven Price, who last week became the first forward since stats have been compiled to bust the 4,000 metres mark in territory, and you have a formidable premiership threat. Watch out Panthers.
Match officials: Referee Sean Hampstead; Sideline Officials Michael Jones & Allen Foster; Video ref Chris Ward.
Televised: Foxsports 3 Live 7.30pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
