Team v Bulldogs

[Meth]

As it turns out, Lewis won’t be playing this week

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

As it turns out, Lewis won’t be playing this week

Yey, huge loss for the Dogs.

 

[sup42]

Still haven't heard anything from the warriors about Pulu since kearney said he was going for Scans of a bump in the same spot as his previous injury.

This story is taking a while to find out.

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Dogs have been playing well recently, that Martin in the 2nd row is always a handful and Klemmer has been dragging them forward, they will probably win the forward battle. The Morris twins may be your biggest threat overall, and Hopoate has been playing good footy at the back

 

[SpaceMonkey]

Our forwards just need to do what they’ve done the last fortnight, All turn up and get reasonable metres then wrestle and slow the play the ball down to the limit of what the refs will allow. Add in the fact that our back three will likely make a good 200m more than their opposites we’ll win the overall metreage battle.

 

[JJ]

VODAFONE WARRIORS v CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
2.00pm, Sunday, August 19, 2018
ANZ Stadium, Sydney

VODAFONE WARRIORS

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c)
2 DAVID FUSITU’A
3 GERARD BEALE
4 SOLOMONE KATA
5 KEN MAUMALO
6 BLAKE GREEN
7 SHAUN JOHNSON
8 JAMES GAVET
9 ISSAC LUKE
10 AGNATIUS PAASI
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I
12 ADAM BLAIR
13 SIMON MANNERING
Interchange:
14 JAZZ TEVAGA
15 LEIVAHA PULU
16 BUNTY AFOA
17 PETA HIKU
18 JOSEPH VUNA
20 ANTHONY GELLING
21 CHRIS SATAE
22 KARL LAWTON

HEAD COACH | STEPHEN KEARNEY

 

[SpaceMonkey]

So looks like Pulu is likely ok. Still think Hiku on bench is a waste but ah well. Getting close to full strength, just need Harris back

 

[Burns]

Did Hiku get many minutes last week? Can only really see him there to cover an injury.

 

[kiwileaguefan]

As it turns out, Lewis won’t be playing this week

They have named him to start

 

[ZEROMISSTACKLES]

Did Hiku get many minutes last week? Can only really see him there to cover an injury.

10 minutes??...at the most. He didn't get much and I do recall the commentators saying he might not get any game time at all late in last weeks clash.

I think the Doggies are the only team that we haven't played this year (correct me if Im wrong). Klemmer, Jackson, Fualalo and Eastwood bolster their pack and that Rhyse Martin looks ok at times. Lichaa gets their sets humming along nicely. I don't rate Holland. Should be an interesting game.

1. William Hopoate
2. Brett Morris
3. Josh Morris
4. Kerrod Holland
5. Reimis Smith
6. Lachlan Lewis
7. Jeremy Marshall-King
8. Aiden Tolman
9. Michael Lichaa
10. David Klemmer
11. Josh Jackson
12. Rhyse Martin
13. Adam Elliot

Interchange: 14. Fa'amanu Brown 15. Danny Fualalo 16. Ofahiki Ogden 17. Greg Eastwood 19. Francis Tualau 20. Matt Frawley 21. Renouf To'omaga 23. John Olive

 

[Meth]

They have named him to start

Yeah, strange that. I read somewhere he couldn't play for 'family reasons'

 

[Meth]

Beating the Bulldogs is mostly about getting parity or supremacy over their forward pack. So, I really don't get Hiku

 

[sup42]

I think Ive got this carrying a back on the bench worked out.

Our back five are running more than ever, running for much bigger meters than our forwards.

Not a new thing I know, but since we are thrashing our backs like forwards, there is a higher risk of injury.

The use of our backs to make our meters also saves the forwards for tackling, and if you look at Kearneys tacklbot side, they have recruited defensively sound props and backrowers.

I just think the like of Hiku and Beale were bought in case we lose a fullback, Winger and Center with all the contact our backs are exposed to.

We did go with an all forward bench a couple of times this year against the bigger packs.

We have two very big wingers and Ken especially was given a lot of benefit of doubt to ensure we had these big running backs.

The bench spot is injury cover in other words.

 

[Meth]

I think Ive got this carrying a back on the bench worked out.

Our back five are running more than ever, running for much bigger meters than our forwards.

Not a new thing I know, but since we are thrashing our backs like forwards, there is a higher risk of injury.

The use of our backs to make our meters also saves the forwards for tackling, and if you look at Kearneys tacklbot side, they have recruited defensively sound props and backrowers.

I just think the like of Hiku and Beale were bought in case we lose a fullback, Winger and Center with all the contact our backs are exposed to.

We did go with an all forward bench a couple of times this year against the bigger packs.

We have two very big wingers and Ken especially was given a lot of benefit of doubt to ensure we had these big running backs.

The bench spot is injury cover in other words.

Can't Mannering or Harris cover the backs in case of injury?

And if not, why not Ayshford, who can also play a bit in the second row? Or Lawton?

 

[Meth]

I just don't love a bench player playing 8 minutes. I know we have a couple of players who can play big minutes + an 80 minute hooker- but if we plan to use a player for 10-15 minutes but for emergency, give me a Tof Sipley type of impact, rather than a Hiku.

 

[sup42]

Can't Mannering or Harris cover the backs in case of injury?

And if not, why not Ayshford, who can also play
Listening to Stephen Kearney on Radio sport on demand (starts around 17:15 hours team naming Tuesday).


a bit in the second row? Or Lawton?

But then you dont get the roll on in the ruck from the kick return if they end up in the back line.

 

[Philip_Smith007]

I think Ive got this carrying a back on the bench worked out.

Our back five are running more than ever, running for much bigger meters than our forwards.

Not a new thing I know, but since we are thrashing our backs like forwards, there is a higher risk of injury.

The use of our backs to make our meters also saves the forwards for tackling, and if you look at Kearneys tacklbot side, they have recruited defensively sound props and backrowers.

I just think the like of Hiku and Beale were bought in case we lose a fullback, Winger and Center with all the contact our backs are exposed to.

We did go with an all forward bench a couple of times this year against the bigger packs.

We have two very big wingers and Ken especially was given a lot of benefit of doubt to ensure we had these big running backs.

The bench spot is injury cover in other words.

It is the only logical reason.
Still not sure Hiku was the best choice.
But as @Meth said, Mannering or Harris could drop into centre and centre out to wing.
Kick returns would not be to much of a problem and could be passed to RTS or other uninjured back.
Beale's or Kata's kick returns would be on par or better than Hiku's so not much of an advantage.

I would be more worried about a forward going down and Hiku having to come into the middle/edge defending.

But as usual we don't know what is going on at training or where some of these players head space is at.

 

[sup42]

Yeah i don't like it either, the back on the bench.

I'd prefer we had someone like George Burgess coming off that Bench or NAS, some massive human that really puts terror into the opposing forward pack.

It will be interesting to see what they do with Ah Mau next year.

 

[ozenzud]

This particular thread gets a bit boring as Kearney is as predictable in his selections as any coach in the history of the world. Barring injury, I reckon I could just about name the side for the start of the comp next year with 99% accuracy!

 

[TheDMC]

Y

This particular thread gets a bit boring as Kearney is as predictable in his selections as any coach in the history of the world. Barring injury, I reckon I could just about name the side for the start of the comp next year with 99% accuracy!

Some credit to Kearney though, he has replaced hikunwith Beale now the incumbent center. A real douche coach like crappy would still be playing hiku