Team List Round 11 Warriors v Dragons 14-30

[TerryGaines]

6pm Friday at Waikato Stadium


1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c) 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 3. Blake Ayshford 4. David Fusitu’a 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Kieran Foran 7. Shaun Johnson 8. James Gavet 9. Issac Luke 10. Jacob Lillyman 11. Bodene Thompson 12. Ryan Hoffman 13. Bunty Afoa.

Interchange: 14. Nathaniel Roache 15. Sam Lisone 16. Ligi Sao 17. Ben Matulino 18. Charlie Gubb 20. Mason Lino 21. Albert Vete 22. Tuimoala Lolohea

* Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad retains his spot on the wing, with Solomone Kata (leg) out and Manu Vautvei (calf) failing to recover from an injury picked up in the final session when he was set to make his return. With Kata out, David Fusitu’a switches from the wing to the centres, with Ken Maumalo coming in on the wing. Simon Mannering (hamstring) again misses out, with Bunty Afoa to start at lock and Sam Lisone dropping to the bench.

Ins: Ken Maumalo, Charlie Gubb, Mason Lino, Albert Vete, Tuimoala Lolohea

Outs: Solomone Kata (leg)



1. Jason Nightingale 2. Nene Macdonald 3. Taane Milne 4. Timoteo Lafai 5. Kalifa Faifai Loa 6. Kurt Mann 7. Josh McCrone 8. Russell Packer 9. Cameron McInnes 10. Paul Vaughan 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Joel Thompson 13. Jack de Belin.

Interchange: 14. Tariq Sims 15. Leeson Ah Mau 16. Hame Sele 17. Jai Field 18. Matt Dufty 19. Siliva Havili 20. Luciano Leilua 21. Jacob Host

* Taane Milne replaces Euan Aitken (hamstring) at centre.

Ins: Jacob Host, Kalifa Faifai Loa, Luciano Leilua, Matthew Dufty, Siliva Havili

Outs: Euan Aitken (hamstring)

 

[TerryGaines]

Red V by a cricket score.

 

[stanleyg]

Red V by a cricket score.

It might be a lot closer than that........at least for the first half then one side will start thinking about up coming byes and anything could happen.

 

[moto748]

So, the forum local derby!

After seeing the Warriors' effort last week, you think, is there anything they couldn't mess up? Even without Widdop, the Dragons should be much too strong.

 

[moto748]

And Mann has been going OK, anyway.

 

[S J]

So, the forum local derby!
After seeing the Warriors' effort last week, you think, is there anything they couldn't mess up? Even without Widdop, the Dragons should be much too strong.

And Mann has been going OK, anyway.

Missing Widdop, Aitken and Dugan. 3 of our best.

We have the ability - I just hope we get an even share of the Ref's "decisions" ...

 

[stanleyg]

Give Nona a run in the halves. Move Mann to the wing and Nene to the bench. The Warriors will be smarting after virtually giving up last week.

 

[TerryGaines]

It might be a lot closer than that........at least for the first half then one side will start thinking about up coming byes and anything could happen.

The weather points to handingly errors, a slow track and unconverted tries and therefore a closer game, so maybe not a cricket score then. Again, I bow to Stan's call.

 

[stanleyg]

If its a muddy track Terry your Warriors might even jag a win. We do however have a couple of kiwis in the Saints side who could be good mud runners though.
Just as long as it isn't too cold as it could freeze up any fire the Dragons have.

 

[TerryGaines]

The

If its a muddy track Terry your Warriors might even jag a win. We do however have a couple of kiwis in the Saints side who could be good mud runners though.
Just as long as it isn't too cold as it could freeze up any fire the Dragons have.View attachment 682

In 2017 thus far, V are:

1st for goals,
1st for off-loads,
2nd on points scored,
2nd for try assists,
3rd for tries,
4th for runs,
4th for run meters,
4th for tackles,
4th for kicks,
5th for line breaks,

14th for errors,
15th for missed tackles,

Not bad. And one needn't worry for the V about three losses on the trot as they were all against top 4 teams.

The far superior V only have to stay in touch with the 60-minute-Warriors before pouncing and putting two tries on the locals in the last quarter.

I had tipped the locals for a narrow win due to the spread of SportsBet Odds and the distribution of tips in the NRL comps, but the modesty of some V supporters has changed that and I now back the V to get take the honors.

 

[TerryGaines]

Warriors: Mason Lino and Albert Vete drop off the extended bench.

Dragons: Siliva Havili and Luciano Leilua drop out of the inital 21-man squad.

 

[TerryGaines]

Warriors v Dragons: Schick Preview

Wed 17 May, 2017, 9:00am
By Corey Rosser‌, New Zealand Correspondent‌‌, ‌‌‌NRL.com

FMG Stadium Waikato
Friday, 8.00pm NZT, 6.00pm AEDT

Six days after suffering a spectacular second-half collapse against the Penrith Panthers, this Dragons side is almost certainly not the team the Warriors want to be meeting, while for St George Illawarra it's the chance to break a three-match losing streak.

The Red V have an excellent record against this Friday's opponents, and in 25 meetings against the Warriors the Dragons have won 80 per cent of the time.

After taking a 28-6 lead into the break last week the Warriors collapsed in embarrassing fashion to lose 36-28, but coach Stephen Kearney has resisted the urge to wield the selection axe.

An injury to Solomone Kata means Ken Maumalo comes in on the wing, with David Fusitu'a shifting to the centres, while Bunty Afoa starts at lock and Sam Lisone drops back to the bench.

Prop Ben Matulino will play his 200th NRL Telstra Premiership match while second-rower Bodene Thompson will celebrate his 50th for the club.

The Dragons meanwhile footed it with the Sharks for all but the final 10 minutes in an eventual 18-14 loss to the defending premiers, which sees them drop to fifth on the ladder.

Coach Paul McGregor has just the one forced change, which sees Taane Milne come into the centres for Euan Aitken (hamstring injury).

‌Why the Warriors can win: There weren't many positives in the end for the Warriors against the Panthers, but the way they played with the ball in the first 40 minutes is something they can build on. The Kiwi side scored five tries in the first stanza, despite having only 44 per cent of the ball in that time, with four line breaks to go with it. There were other good signs for Kearney's side in terms of their work on the ball, most notably five-eighth Kieran Foran's strong showing which included a try, a try assist and 40/20 kick.

Why the Dragons can win: St George Illawarra's forward pack is undoubtedly their major boast in 2017, while the Warriors' pack has been an area of concern from the get go. Despite the loss to the Sharks, the Dragons won the forward battle in convincing fashion last week, led by another huge effort from prop Paul Vaughan who had 188 metres on his own. Across the season St George Illawarra trail only the Brisbane Broncos in terms of the most metres gained, averaging 1650 per game, which is almost exactly 100 metres more than the Warriors' 2017 average.
‌
The history: Played 25; Warriors 5; Dragons 20. Taking the field against the Warriors and leaving the stadium with two points is almost a tradition for the Dragons, with St George Illawarra having lost to the Kiwi side just once in their last 13 meetings. The Warriors and Dragons have met at FMG Stadium Waikato once before in a 2004 pre-season match, which the Dragons won 36-30.

What are the odds: St George Illawarra are the punters' pick according to Sportsbet, with twice the dollars invested on them in the head-to-head market, and more than three times the number of individual bets. Dragons 1-12 is the most popular winning margin and Nene McDonald is the best backed for first try scorer. Latest odds at sportsbet.com.au.

Match officials: Referee: Henry Perenara. Assistant referee: Peter Gough. Sideline officials: Russell Turner and Chris McMillan. Review official: Luke Patten. Senior review official: Jared Maxwell.

Televised: Fox Sports – Live coverage from 6.00pm (AEDT). Sky Sports - Live coverage from 8.00pm (NZT).

NRL.com predicts: The Red V have lost three straight but their level of play has been higher than the Warriors' through that period, and they will likely arrive in Hamilton the more confident side. The Kiwi outfit can be expected to show vast improvement on last week, but across the 80 the Dragons' pack should prove too much for the Warriors to handle. Dragons by 10.

 

[TerryGaines]

Ben M jogs over for a try, 6-0 after 14.

 

[TerryGaines]

Kalifa Faifai Loa crosses, 6 all after 22

Joel Thompson makes it 6-10 after 26. Warriors right edge and Shaun Johnson looking weak.

 

[TerryGaines]

28’ Tim Lafai kicks the goal. Dragons now leading 6-12

32’ TRY!!! McCrone opts to run it on the last and finds Timmy Lafai

 

[TerryGaines]

37’ TRY confirmed for the Warriors. Johnson can't convert. Dragons still lead 10-18

 

[TerryGaines]

50' TRY DRAGONS! Macdonald scores for Dragons. Kick to come. Warriors 10 Dragons 22

Raining now, Shaun Johnson sleep-walking, Warriors can't win it from here.

 

[TerryGaines]

59’ TRY!!! Cuzzie gets a double
60' Tim Lafai can’t convert from the sideline. Dragons lead 10-26

Warriors run out of puff before the 60 minute mark in this game. C'mon SGI, put the boot in.

 

[TerryGaines]

66’ TRY!!! The birthday boy gets in on the party
Tim Lafai can’t convert. Dragons leading 10-30

 

[TerryGaines]

The car park stampede is on with 10 to go.