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Don't worry mate, I was all jest hehe. (although I am a bit stupid! )
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/warriors-league-team/news/article.cfm?c_id=360&objectid=10705906NRL: Warriors wings smoke Eels
By Michael Burgess 5:30 AM Sunday Feb 13, 2011
Warriors 24
Eels 4
Manu Vatuvei looked ready to inflict himself on more NRL defenders when he scored a try and looked fit and fast in the Warriors' pre-season hit-out against Stephen Kearney's Parramatta Eels.
Just like the city's famous geysers, the action yesterday came in fits and starts but it was the Warriors wingers - Vatuvei and speedy youngster Glen Fisiiahi - who burst into prominence.
Coach Ivan Cleary was particularly impressed with Vatuvei, having his first game back after months out with injury, who was probably the outstanding player until he left the field after 55 minutes.
"It was probably the best first game I have seen him have," said Cleary. "It is probably the lightest he has been at this stage [of a season]. I'm just glad he's on our team."
In the opening minutes of the second half, Fisiiahi brought the crowd to their feet, dotting down near the posts after beating three defenders with a twisting 50m run.
As the sun went down, the action hotted up, with the Warriors producing some of the ad lib football they are famous for. Kevin Locke, who looked sharp throughout, sparked an attack from his own tryline with a piece of elusive magic.
Five tackles and 100m later, Fisiiahi touched down for the try of the match.
"He's certainly a talent," said Cleary of Fisiiahi, "and he is doing everything he can to force his way into the NRL team."
There were flashes of brilliance on a sweltering afternoon, mostly from the Warriors who produced the more cohesive display, eventually sprinting away after a tight first half.
Coaches attach limited importance to trial matches but Cleary came away happy, as his side dominated the encounter from the start.
He praised his side's patience and ball control on attack, and goal line commitment on defence, with the only negative being a number of penalties conceded as they struggled with some new refereeing interpretations.
"There are a few things we need to fix up," said Cleary, "but all in all, it was a pretty good day."
The Warriors scored five tries to one, with the Sydneysiders failing to capitalise on the few scoring opportunities they created.
A relaxed Kearney said his side's effort was "encouraging", adding that the result has no significance ahead of the first round NRL clash on March 12.
Like any pre-season encounter, it was a little disorganised at times - the sight of big prop Russell Packer putting in a fifth tackle chip kick is not something that Cleary will want to see again soon - but both teams will benefit from the hit-out in the heat.
Cleary choose to rest regulars Brett Seymour, James Maloney, Lance Hohaia and Simon Mannering, while there was also no place for new buys Feleti Mateo and Shaun Berrigan - and also meaning the Warriors backline structure in particular is still not known.
The Warriors opened the scoring through Vatuvei - who else? - in the 11th minute from a simple overlap after some slick passing on the left hand edge.
Parramatta lock Shane Shackleton was then held up over the line before Eel-turned-Warrior Krisnan Inu produced a gravity-defying leap to reel in an Issac John bomb and score near the right touchline.
The Sydney side finally got on the board in the 35th minute, with second-rower Taniela Lasalo forcing his way over after Jeff Robson had split the marker defence.
For the Eels, Paul Whatuira - one of the few Kiwis to win NRL rings with two different teams - looked as fit and tough as ever on his return to the Southern Hemisphere.
Kearney also handed Eels debuts to former Bronco Casey McGuire and firebrand centre Chris Walker.
The Warriors have two more trial matches before their first round clash against Parramatta at Eden Park next month.
Warriors 24 (M. Vatuvei, K. Inu, G. Fisiiahi (2), L. Brown tries; Inu 2 goals), Eels 4 (T. Lasalo try). Halftime: 8-4
By Michael Burgess
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/n...work-in-progress/story-e6frfgbo-1226005076120Kearney's smoked Eels are still a work in progress
- From: The Sunday Telegraph
- February 12, 2011 10:27PM
- WARRIORS 24 - EELS 4
PARRAMATTA'S Steve Kearney era got off to a shaky start against the New Zealand Warriors at Rotorua's International Stadium.
And it was a former Eel in Krisnan Inu who helped get the ball rolling for the Warriors, scoring a first-half try as the home team went to the break with an 8-4 lead.
Kearney clearly has much work to do before the season kicks off next month.
Three second-half tries to the home team blew out the final score, but the Warriors were more advanced than the Eels after playing a trial last week against the Newcastle Knights in Greymouth.
Second rower Taniera Lasalo scored the Eels' lone try, but stand-in captain Luke Burt was proud of the effort put in by his young team-mates. He said it was an important hit-out for a club rebuilding after Daniel Anderson was axed as coach at the end of last season.
"It was good finally get out there after a long, hard pre-season, it was excellent to have a hit out like that," Burt said.
"Unfortunately we didn't get result but there were good signs.
"Our defence in the first half was very strong and a lot of the young fellas played very well.
"The boys in the middle performed at a high level for their first game of the year.
"I think we have a little fine-tuning to do with our attack, but overall we can take a lot out of it."
Warriors rookie Glen Fisiiahi impressed with a brace of tries in the second half, while Lewis Brown also scored to give Ivan Cleary's side an encouraging 20-point win.
The Warriors were without playmaker James Maloney, who missed the match because of illness, with Isaac John called in as a late replacement to partner former Junior Warriors captain Elijah Taylor in the halves.
It was John's first run of the season after recovering from knee surgery.
Winger Vatuvei, centre Jerome Ropati, hooker Aaron Heremaia and props Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino and Russell Packer were also back on deck after missing last Saturday's 22-all draw with Newcastle.
Rapira and his brother Steve played together in a Warriors side for the first time. The previous time they played together was for the Junior Kiwis in 2005.
That's exactly how I read this thread this morning btw.
Geez, overreaction much? All Spartan said was that the official trial report would just have all the usual cliches you get after a loss. No different to how everyone here regularly bemoaned Hagan's famous line about not being far from where we want to be... but yeah, let's put sh*t on one poster because we're too precious/paranoid about any realism/criticism bursting our personal 2011 bubble.
Ouch, Boxhead found to not practice what he preaches! I'm sure boxy is a great kid (and very enthusiastic about the Eels), but like others needs to settle down imo about how he reacts to opinions different from his own.
I'd very much hope that this is our starting backrow - I struggle to think of any other options tbh?
