ST GEORGE Illawarra have long had the wood on the Warriors, but they’ll have a new ace up their sleeve on Sunday with the Dragons big men set to outweigh their rivals by almost 25kgs.
TOUGH STUFF: Paul Vaughan was one of five Dragons forwards who ran for more than 100 metres against Cronulla last week. Picture: Getty Images
The Dragons have a commanding record against the Warriors, having won 19 of 24 clashes against the men from across the ditch, but such an advantage in pure muscle has been a rarity.
Albert Vete is the biggest Warrior, listed at 110kgs, with the rest of the pack under the 110 mark. In comparison, Russell Packer tips the scales at 121kgs with both Leeson Ah Mau (112kgs) and Paul Vaughan also 110 kilos or above.
The added bulk has allowed the Dragons to play a power game against league heavyweights Penrith and Cronulla, with five members of the forward pack logging more than 100 metres against the Sharks.
Vaughan contributed 176 metres and said his fellow bookends are certainly warming to the new style of play.
“We have have got a great forward pack with the likes of Russell [Packer] and Leeson [Ah Mau], Friz [Tyson Frizell] and Debs [Jack de Belin] and all those guys,” Vaugan said.
“It’s one of the biggest things we’re trying to build our game around is that power game so hopefully it keeps working for us and the backs can play off the back of that and find a little bit of space.
“The week before against the Eeels we just weren’t completing and this week we held onto the ball. I don’t think any middle forward made an error in the whole game.
“When you give yourself that kind of possession and that kind of quality ball you’re going to get a good number of carries in so it was good that the boys were punching through the middle. It was good to get the win and it’s good platform for us to build on.
“It’s one of the biggest things the Warriors are renowned for, the aggression in their forward pack, so it’s obviously going to be a tough game in the middle this week.”
Deemed surplus to requirements by the Raiders last season, Vaughan admits he’s come into his first season with a new club with a point to prove.
“Yeah definitely. I just want to continue ripping in for the Saints because they’ve given me a great opportunity to come here and I just want to repay that faith,” he said.
“I thought I started well, the second game against the Eels I wasn’t really happy with but two games out of three isn’t too bad.
“I just want to contribute each week and build a consistent game. That’s all I’m really after. I’ll just try and build on that game last week and try and find some consistency.”
Returning Warriors half Kieran Foran will no doubt come in for some attention from the Dragons pack, with coach Paul McGregor certain the former Kiwi Test captain will play on Sunday.
“He’ll definitely play,” McGregor said.
“He’s a very good footballer. He’s been out of the game a little while but he’s played a lot of footy so they’ll definitely be welcoming his presence back in their footy team.”
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