Diary Of A Warriors Fan - Them Other Warriors (NSWarriors + Junior Warriors)
NSWarriors
The NSWarriors suffered a big, rather worrying defeat to the Wyong Roos last weekend as they went down 42-6 but this week they welcome back some impressive names. First grade coach Andrew McFadden will have a close eye on this week's game against the Wests Tigers as young outside backs Ken Maumalo and David Fusitua return from injury.
With Maumalo and Fusitua joining Matt Allwood as fringe first graders, the Warriors can now roll out their best first grade side with rather intense competition for starting spots. They also welcome back Sam Rapira to the starting line up who will join Suaia Matagi as the starting props, a scary sight for any reserve grader while the rest of the 17 is rather settled.
They take on a Tigers side who also lost last week and are trying to avoid their third loss on the trot. They have a few players who have either played first grade or will more than likely get a run at some stage, keep an eye on Kurtis Rowe on the wing and Lamar Liolevave who made his first grade debut in the second row for the Tigers recently. They also have the talented Manaia Cherrington who will come of the bench to serve up some spark at hooker.
The Warriors have slipped from 2nd to 8th on the ladder with a snap of the fingers, but teams from 2nd to 8th are all on 6 points. A few wins will make a big difference and with some talented players returning to a side that has had a similar look to it each week, there's no reason to think that they can't beat the Tigers this week. I'd definitely be keeping a close eye on Fusitua and Maumalo, Jonathan Wright has been solid and is doing his job as a depth player but the quicker the first grade side can get another winger who can break the line and run semi-quickly on the park, the better.
1 VILIAMI KAVEINGA
2 KEN MAUMALO
3 MATT ALLWOOD
4 DAVID FUSITU’A
5 JARROD TUA
6 API PEWHAIRANGI
7 SAM COOK
8 SUAIA MATAGI
9 SILIVA HAVILI
10 SAM RAPIRA
11 RAYMOND FAITALA-MARINER
12 JOHN PALAVI (c)
13 CHARLIE GUBB
Interchange:
14 DAVID BHANA
15 NATHANIEL PETERU
17 JAMES BELL
20 UPU POCHING
Junior Warriors
The Junior Warriors also have to bounce back after the Melbourne Storm were too good for them in Melbourne last week, winning 38-28. This week they will face the Wests Tigers and will welcome back the services of the classy, young and versatile Marata Niukore who was promoted to reserve grade last week.
Niukore has played some second row, but the Junior Warriors will roll out what looks to be their strongest 17 with Ofahiki Ogden and Matiu Love-Henry both impressing on either edge. Ogden especially is a beast with the ball in hand while Love-Henry is a try scoring machine, scoring six tries already this season.
There's combinations all over the show here which should provide great optimism for fans and the club, but there's no point in having these nice combos if they aren't winning. They have consistently rolled out a spine of Brad Abbey, Ata Hingano, Erin Clark and Nathaniel Roache along with Sheldon Pitama who has impressed coming off the bench. There's not many Holden Cup sides who can boast such a spine and with a game they really need to win against the Tigers this week, it would be great to see them put on a clinical display.
The other combo to watch is the two starting props; Bunty Afoa and Toafofoa Sipley. Their work in getting the Juniors rolling down the field is crucial and these two lads are tasked with laying the platform for their play makers. Through in dangerous ball runners on either edge and you've got a side who should be able to beat anyone.
1 BRAD ABBEY
2 TOMAS AOAKE
3 SEMISI TYRELL
4 MARATA NIUKORE
5 PAUL ULBERG
6 ATA HINGANO
7 ERIN CLARK
8 BUNTY AFOA
9 NATHANIEL ROACHE
10 TOAFOFOA SIPLEY (c)
11 OFAHIKI OGDEN
12 MATIU LOVE-HENRY
13 JAZZ TEVAGA
Interchange:
14 SHELDON PITAMA
15 PAUL TULI
16 AMONI TUFUI
17 MATTAIS HEIMULI
20 TAMATI IOANE-NIKO