Team v Bulldogs

[ozbash]

Yyyyaaaaaaaayyyy!!!

So, you got your way, eh ?

All the hate mail to Scurrah, all the phonecalls to Veitchy, all the sandwich board wearing ("I hate the Ro") outside the Beehive has worked for you...

I hope you are happy, you've broken this heart..... sob....

 

[Cold Roses]

Article on Stuff saying Ropati misses out because of a Hamstring strain.

 

[ozbash]

Article on Stuff saying Ropati misses out because of a Hamstring strain.

oh, that's alright then..

played injured on Sunday ? Legend

 

[Cold Roses]

oh, that's alright then..

played injured on Sunday ? Legend

:lol:

 

[TheDMC]

oh, that's alright then..

played injured on Sunday ? Legend

Time to let go bro, Hitman got over his love affair with Ukuma...

 

[Benek]

Fish in, Hurrell in for Ropati, Rapira named, Tuimavave 18th man, Laumape to the Vulcans.

http://www.warriors.co.nz/news-display/TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT Fisiiahi and Hurrell in/74092

1 GLEN FISIIAHI
2 BILL TUPOU
3 BEN HENRY
4 KONRAD HURRELL
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 THOMAS LEULUAI
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 NATHAN FRIEND
10 RUSSELL PACKER
11 FELETI MATEO
12 SIMON MANNERING (c)
13 TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
14 BEN MATULINO
15 JACOB LILLYMAN
16 ELIJAH TAYLOR
17 PITA GODINET
18 CARLOS TUIMAVAVE

Good looking team. Only change I'd like to see is Laumape in for Tupou, but I can also understand the desire to have him develop in the Vulcans.

I pray the exclusion of Ropati wasn't just because of an injury. If Elliott had been seriously considering him in the side after his last two performances that makes me sick.

 

[Micistm]

Fish in, Hurrell in for Ropati, Rapira named, Tuimavave 18th man, Laumape to the Vulcans.

http://www.warriors.co.nz/news-display/TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT Fisiiahi and Hurrell in/74092

1 GLEN FISIIAHI
2 BILL TUPOU
3 BEN HENRY
4 KONRAD HURRELL
5 MANU VATUVEI
6 THOMAS LEULUAI
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 SAM RAPIRA
9 NATHAN FRIEND
10 RUSSELL PACKER
11 FELETI MATEO
12 SIMON MANNERING (c)
13 TODD LOWRIE
Interchange:
14 BEN MATULINO
15 JACOB LILLYMAN
16 ELIJAH TAYLOR
17 PITA GODINET
18 CARLOS TUIMAVAVE

I'm fairly happy with that as around the best we could go, Tupou on wing possibly the only real possible debate. Good luck to the Fish, he's got a FG spot in his position, hope he does well

 

[Penrose11]

Fish has had several FG games on wing but has he played any yet at the back?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Yes he's played a few time as a fill in at fullback. Aside from his debut where he scorched Cronulla a couple of times there hasn't been a lot to write home about. Hasn't been bad, just hasn't had the opportunities.

 

[Blake]

The guy plays like he's afraid of being tackled. He'll get monstered again and do sfa.

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Fish needs some anger and passion pills in his diet. If he had those 2 things he will be the best thing to talk about since the invention of butter. I have been waiting for that "GAME" where he shines, still waiting........................

 

[TheDMC]

By memory, and a dodgy one at that, Fish's games at fullback last season were pretty much when we were in disarray, and very hard to shine when new to FG and the whole team sucked. Best of luck to him this weekend, and a win here could finally see the confidence built to go with our improved structure and attitude. Tis a vital game!

 

[Meth]

Fish has had several FG games on wing but has he played any yet at the back?

yes

 

[hitman82]

Fish's FG games at the back have been notable for our (even more than usual) disorganised backline defence and for tries being scored with nobody within metres of the opposition ball-carrier. I hope he's learnt how to position himself and communicate with his defenders.

This backline could score some big points, but it could just as easily have an absolute headcase meltdown. If Hurrell and Manu have bad handling days, and Fish and Tupou have bad defensive days, we could be in for some dark hilarity.

 

[vvvrulz]

Fish's FG games at the back have been notable for our (even more than usual) disorganised backline defence and for tries being scored with nobody within metres of the opposition ball-carrier. I hope he's learnt how to position himself and communicate with his defenders.

This backline could score some big points, but it could just as easily have an absolute headcase meltdown. If Hurrell and Manu have bad handling days, and Fish and Tupou have bad defensive days, we could be in for some dark hilarity.

This.

Fish at the back was absolutely atrocious and made me realise just how valuable Locke is. There are games where an NRL fullback will get no real attacking opportunities and are required to defuse attacking plays with smart defensive reads for 80 mins. Fish can't do this for 5 mins.

I don't think Tupou is the worst defender, just adequate. He often has to bear the brunt of Hurrell and Ropati stupidity.

 

[LeagueNut]

If my list is right, Fisiiahi has started at fullback in six games...

Rd 4 2011 vs Sharks in Taupo: We won 26 - 18
Rd 5 2011 vs Roosters in Auckland: We won 24 - 12
Rd 5 2012 vs Roosters in Sydney: We lost 8 - 26
Rd 6 2012 vs Raiders in Canberra: We lost 12 - 32
Rd 11 2012 vs Tigers in Sydney: We lost 22 - 24
Rd 13 2012 vs Storm in Auckland: We lost 12 - 22

Dunno why, but I was expecting to see more blowout scores.

 

[Meth]

He was terrible in 2012, but he wasn't the only one.

 

[Meth]

This is a big game for us tomorrow.

Bulldogs have the ability to blow us off the park. But I can also easily see us winning this one. We've had similar starts to the year.

There'll be a good crowd out.

If we win, could skyrocket up to about 12th :lol: But if we play winning football over the next month, and get on a roll, we could be up nearer to the top 8, or even in the top 8, by the end of it.

v Bulldogs in Wellington
v Panthers away
v Knights at home
v Broncos away (Origin week)

The draw couldn't get much kinder to us. So if we are going to move, now's the time.

 

[jamaman]

rate the Titans a better team then dogs.. us by 6

 

[hitman82]

This is a big game for us tomorrow.

Bulldogs have the ability to blow us off the park. But I can also easily see us winning this one. We've had similar starts to the year.

There'll be a good crowd out.

If we win, could skyrocket up to about 12th :lol: But if we play winning football over the next month, and get on a roll, we could be up nearer to the top 8, or even in the top 8, by the end of it.

v Bulldogs in Wellington
v Panthers away
v Knights at home
v Broncos away (Origin week)

The draw couldn't get much kinder to us. So if we are going to move, now's the time.

24,000 pre sales = Big crowd is a sure thing. We always suck away from home in NZ though.

...yeah, then
v Manly at home
v Roosters away
v BYE
v Broncos at home

With luck, we can jag 2-3 wins from the next four games and head into the next month with a BYE and 3 50-50 games to solidify in the eight... hopefully!