WEEK TWO - North Queensland 49 Warriors 12 @ DFS

[Fast Eddie]

I'm pretty sure it is made of that same material that the All Blacks and Black Caps use.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

Ah a Virgo?
How old are you?

The Warriors wearing black on Sunday as well? Geez poor blokes.

Yep, born a virgo

age- will be 25

 

[Shorty]

I'm pretty sure it is made of that same material that the All Blacks and Black Caps use.

Despite that,it will still get quite hot in the sun,hopefully both trainers hydrate the players properly.
That sounds like a stupid thing to say but after that whole Dallas Johnson incident I dunno.

 

[Rovelli]

This thing about the Warriors struggling in the heat:
man it's not like we're the biggest forward pack in the league and/or we are unfit.

 

[Ianc]

It will be hot but whether that is an advantage to Cowboys only time will tell.

 

[Rovelli]

If our forwards run over the top of the Cowboys, they'll be tired too.

It boils down to who stays more disciplined, completes their sets. The team that has to make more tackles will most likely lose.

Hopefully that penalty count isn't too lopsided.

 

[Ianc]

If our forwards run over the top of the Cowboys, they'll be tired too.

It boils down to who stays more disciplined, completes their sets. The team that has to make more tackles will most likely lose.

Hopefully that penalty count isn't too lopsided.

I agree. Although I wouldn't mind a lopsided penalty count our way

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

It'll take more then that to toople us

 

[CowMan]

the kiwicats might be wearign these on sunday

 

[Charlie124]

I think this game will be harder than the bulldgos games, however i still think the cowboys will have the better disiplin and ball control to win it.

heat will be an issue for both teams, it wont be a great advantage.

 

[Dr Crane]

the kiwicats might be wearign these on sunday

Very smart if they do.

 

[CowMan]

they wont be aloud to wear these on the field will they?

or is it just a side line thing?

 

[gong_eagle]

Cowboys v Warriors preview

Wednesday, September 12, 2007
http://svc002.wic108cx.server-web.com/News/Latest/NewsArticle/tabid/76/NewsId/7040/Default.aspx
Forget about this being a low-scoring affair – fans should be a treated to a smorgasbord of attacking flair as two of the most gifted and skilled units in the NRL lock horns.
The Cowboys enter Dairy Farmers Stadium for the third successive week, aiming for a seventh consecutive win – which would be a record for the North Queensland franchise.
They have climbed over the top of the Bulldogs twice in the past fortnight and appear to be building good momentum.
Last week’s narrow loss to the Eels was just the Warriors’second in nine games and they certainly didn’t lose any admirers.
The Warriors are at full strength, with Michael Luck playing his 50th first grade game for the visitors, while Simon Mannering laces up for his 50th NRL game.
For the home side, an injury cloud remains over the fitness of Carl Webb – he’s been named but his calf injury was originally expected to keep him sidelined for this.
Jacob Lillyman will run out for his 50th NRL game.
Watch out Cowboys: The combination of a suspect defence coming up against a side that’s better than average at breaking tackles, and one that’s the best in the business at offloading, could mean disaster.
The Cowboys are the second worst side in the NRL at effecting tackles, missing 1,070 all season (Johnathan Thurston is the worst offender, averaging nearly five misses a game).
The Warriors rank sixth for breaking tackles with 949, and lead the comp for offloads with 356.
They could deliver the Cowboys a dose of their own medicine.
Watch out Warriors: In their six consecutive wins the Cowboys have completely turned around their worrying trend of being the only top-eight side with more points scored against them than they’ve put on oppositions.
After round 20, having been thumped 54-10 by the Wests Tigers, most fans and critics were prepared to write them off – they were clinging to eighth position with a -113 points differential.
But since then they’ve scored 174 points with 130 against for a +44 differential.
That’s some turnaround. The good thing for Ivan Cleary is he doesn’t have to look too hard to stop the damage: it’s all up to Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen, whose whirlwind performances have inspired other “lesser” talents to make the step up.
The stats are compelling – despite being targeted last week JT made 10 runs for 89 metres with seven tackle breaks and a line break.
His kicking was awesome too – nine kicks for 260 metres. Bowen made 16 runs for 116 metres, with seven tackle breaks, two line breaks and a try assist.
He also made a searching 386 metres with seven kicks. Steven Price – who leads the NRL for kick charge-downs with eight – has said they’ll be pressuring the kickers; you can bet they will.
Where it will be won: With a 30-degree temperature likely in Townsville, maintaining field position will be crucial.
This is where Thurston’s and Bowens’ kicking games will count. The home side has made the least metres of any side in the comp this year, with just 1,267.
It would appear the dynamic duo have been keeping them in their contests off the boot – 60 per cent of Thurston’s kicks have been to open space, allowing the kick chase to set their defensive line quickly.
It’s especially important given Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon has the second most metres on kick returns, averaging 12.4 every time.
Conversely, the Warriors are strong metre-eaters – they rank fourth with 1,401, largely on the back of captain Steven Price’s average 202 a game.
Given the expected conditions, both sides will take cheap yards out of dummy half; the Cowboys made 34 darts last week – 19 by backs.
The Warriors made just 20 but that’ll change given fast conditions.
The History: Played 22; Cowboys 11, Warriors 11. One of the closest fought rivalries in the NRL, although the Cowboys have won six of the past eight clashes.
They’ve met twice in 2007, with the Warriors winning 34-14 in round 5 and the Cowboys getting home 18-12 in round 17.
The Cowboys have won six of 10 games at Dairy Farmers Stadium, including the past four. But they’ve also lost both day games they’ve played this year.
Conclusion: Wade McKinnon’s battle with Matt Bowen will be one of the best positional match-ups of the year: McKinnon ranks third for line breaks with 21, Bowen leads the comp with 31; McKinnon’s 3,158 running metres ranks him eighth, Bowen’s 3,013 ranks him eleventh; McKinnon ranks second for tackle breaks (168) to Bowen’s NRL-topping 211. While the stats tell a story to a degree, the weather, and how each side copes, is the real unknown here.
Good completion rates will be critical – but that’s of no help given there’s nothing between them there this season (the Cowboys average 70 per cent to the Warriors’ 71).
But if you run a rule through the Cowboys’ opposition over the past two weeks, there are a couple of things that will have Warriors’ supporters enthused about their chances.
Last week the Dogs were caned 12-4 in the penalties but nearly got the win.
The Warriors are a much more disciplined side, having yielded just 144 penalties in the regular season compared to the Dogs’ 159. (The Cowboys conceded 138.)
And while just three sides have missed more tackles than the Bulldogs’ 989 all year, the Warriors are a much sterner outfit – they’re the fifth tightest with just 766 missed.
And they have the leading one-on-one tackler in the NRL in Simon Mannering (72) which should give them a better chance than most of containing Bowen’s electric efforts.
That said, this final is too close to call.
Match officials: Referee – Tony Archer; Sideline Officials – Steve Carrall & Steve Lyons; Video refs – Phil Cooley & Tim Mander.
Televised: Channel Nine – Live 4.00pm (NSW & Qld); Foxsports 3 – Delayed 6pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.

 

[Rovelli]

Will Carl Webb defy the odds and play?

 

[CowMan]

my guess














yes

 

[jc155776]

Webb is 80% starter.

Risking a lot but the Sunday game may be a major blessing for the Cows.

Got that info from the physio he goes too in townsville.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

Doesn't matter if he plays or not, we should be well prepared for either scenario

 

[CowMan]

i had to admit 1 thing you warriors Fans are 2309485% better then them Dogs Fans GG

 

[Shorty]

Why cause Timmah's not in here?!
lol.

Warriors are good though there is one thing I must say,if you do beat us you must go all the way.
Manly are dullards and Melbourne are robotic,I don't mind Parra but I'd rather a premiershipless team wins it.

 

[Rovelli]

Can't imagine watching the NRL if my beloved team aren't in it. It's just not fun anymore.

Anyway, it'll be fun seeing one of Parra and the Dogs bow out tomorrow night.