Wests team V NZ Warriors

[innsaneink]

Wests Tigers Coach Tim Sheens has named his side to play the
Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on Saturday, May 20. Kick-off is 5.30pm
(AEST)

1 Shannon McDonnell
2 Daniel Fitzhenry
3 Dean Collis
4 Paul Whatuira
5 Shane Elford
6 Benji Marshall
7 Scott Prince (c)
8 Todd Payten (c)
9 Robbie Farah
10 John Skandalis
11 Bryce Gibbs
12 Anthony Laffranchi
13 Jamaal Lolesi

14 Chris Heighington
15 Dene Halatau
16 Keith Galloway
17 Ryan O'Hara
19 Taniela Tuiaki

Ben Galea (hamstring - rd 12)
Sam Harris (ankle - rd 15)
Liam Fulton (shoulder - season)

Unavailable
Brett Hodgson (NSW Origin)

 

[Scott]

That is a very very tough forward pack.

 

[chopsy_05]

Payten co captain... Interesting but deserved. It's a good side on paper. Shame there's no Galea though. Good to see McDonnell as f/b.

 

[colonel_123]

Payten co captain... Interesting but deserved. It's a good side on paper. Shame there's no Galea though. Good to see McDonnell as f/b.

Sheens seems to be giving every player a turn at being co-captain with Prince when ever Hodgson is unavailable.

Farah was named co-captain against the Sea Eagles when Hodgson was thought to be ruled out (he later played), while Galea was co-captain against the Eels.

I guess Sheens will name a different player to co-captain along with Prince before games two and three of origin assuming Hodgson retains his Blues jumper.

 

[mulvihill]

MAybe scottie can teach em how to kick to even the worst fullback on the full when he gives out his tips ??

 

[simon says]

That is a very very tough forward pack.

You would think so......but I was dissapointed with our go forward last week,especially in the first half.....we were making 30 metres per set and the Knights were getting 50 or more.

The second half was a little better,the pigs ran straighter and the defense was better.

But I am still not happy with our pigs,we still arent dominating any packs.ANd Im not expecting them to dominate the Kiwiw boys either......

Out wide IMO.

 

[mulvihill]

move them around we should be OK.

But if we get the dreaded Auckland weather we are goooorne

 

[ozbash]

should be fine but a bit chilly.

this shapes up to be a very good game. good luck tigers.

 

[Young Elias]

Agree with the calls about our pack lacking go forward (as usual).

We have these massive lads but they dont head a head of steam and run hard at the line, they just jog and take the tackle.

And against the Knights Fitzy took a run on every set I reckon. We need the big units to get us out of our own 40 with proper yardage gaining runs.

 

[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]

Hmm, i'm guessing that Tuiaki is there in case Shannon doesn't make it through the under 19's origin...

 

[Mighty Tiger]

Shannon plays the SOO under 19's game after the warriors clash - its the lead up game to the big boys SOO match

TnT is there as a floating reserve, can play backrow as well as in the backs - wish he got a run ahead of Elford

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Warriors by 22

Hopefully a full flight storm like last year

 

[colonel_123]

You would think so......but I was dissapointed with our go forward last week,especially in the first half.....we were making 30 metres per set and the Knights were getting 50 or more.

The second half was a little better,the pigs ran straighter and the defense was better.

But I am still not happy with our pigs,we still arent dominating any packs.ANd Im not expecting them to dominate the Kiwiw boys either......

Out wide IMO.

Agreed, it was the most disappointing aspect of last weeks game.

It seemed the only way Wests could make any metres was through Fitzhenry out of dummy half. The forwards were all being pushed back.

This was allowing Seage to drop back to easily field the inevitable long range kick that came at the end of each poor set.

 

[innsaneink]

We couldnt get a quick play the ball.....at the ground it seemed liek bumstead was letting them lie on our blokes forever...we rely on quick ptb's & scoots from dummy half from farah & halatau, but them slowing us down allowed their defence to be set each play.

 

[mulvihill]

We can shirley cope with that warriors backline. Esp once benji comes on

 

[Vicious]

The whole Warriors side is very ordinary, and we should beat them comfortably if we`re fair dinkum about defending the title.

 

[mulvihill]

It's as ordinary as the side that belted us 8 wks ago. We can take nothing for granted. Especially with the No 2 playing week aftr week after week

 

[simon says]

We really should win this game......Im looking for an improved effort from the piggies.With any kind of field position,that backline we have should be able to get 30 points.

 

[Vicious]

Our 2 and 5 are both very ordinary, but they have about 7-8 of them.

 

[simon says]

Our 1,3,4,6 are all weapons.....as is our 7 on his day.