Aotearoa Warriors Diary: No Complacency vs Titans
While NZ Warriors were enjoying their bye last round, Gold Coast Titans snared a win over Cowboys and will now defend home turf against a touring Warriors team. The NSW Cup Warriors also had a bye and they will be in action against Panthers on Saturday in Sydney, with a team stacked with lads from Aotearoa.
There was a sneaky departure of Mangere East junior Nicholas Halalilo from the NSW Cup Warriors recently as he linked up with Central Queensland Capras in Queensland Cup. Capras have a partnership with Redcliffe Dolphins and Halalilo may play his way into a train/trial gig with the Dolphins this summer. This is a lovely opportunitiy for Halalilo who was in the wider Warriors mixer since at least the start of 2020 and reflects how the NSW Cup Warriors are moving towards younger players.
Halalilo played nine games of NSW Cup this season and started one of them, usually playing as an edge forward. He played less than 60 minutes in all nine games but delivered impressive mahi and his four games with Capras have seen him start at edge forward, playing 74mins in his first outing then 80mins in the next three. A bloke who couldn't get a start for Warriors reserve grade instantly got a starting role for Capras with 114m/game and 91% tackling so far.
Michael Sio is the only veteran forward named in NSW Cup. Kalani Going, Demitric Sifakula and Selumiela (Leka) Halasima lead the edge forward slots while Jacob Laban continues to develop as well. Halalilo has a genuine chance at cracking the Dolphins wider squad this summer, but he does not have the upside of Sifakula, Halasima or Laban. That's the quality of young talent in the Warriors system right now.
Warriors are 2nd in NSW Cup (11-1-8) and Panthers are 5th (11-9). Results aren't as important as developing these youngsters and as Warriors are emulating many aspects of Panthers footy and their system, this will be a funky match up. Panthers also have Preston Riki (Rawene) and Daeon Amituanai (Whiti Te Ra) who were in the Warriors system prior to the pandemic, then recruited by Panthers from their footy for Warriors-Redcliffe.
This is not a time for Warriors folk to be complacent. Titans are fresh off a win and will be eager to push for finals as well as making a positive impression on incoming coach Des Hasler. Titans have conceded over 100 more points than Warriors though (482 vs 346) and they have clear weaknesses for Warriors to target.
Titans have scored 56% of their tries on the left edge where David Fifita runs rampant with Kieran Foran pulling the strings. This provides an intriguing challenge for the Warriors right edge, specifically Rocco Berry who has enjoyed favourable match ups in recent weeks. Titans concede 41% of their tries on the right edge and this balances out the Berry/Adam Pompey match up stuff as Pompey and the Warriors left edge get the better match up this week.
Joe Stimson (4) and Tanah Boyd (3.16) average the most missed tackles per game of all Titans players, both defend on their right edge. Jackson Ford will be hitting the space between these two, Luke Metcalf will challenge them with his speed and Warriors should be able to put Pompey into overlap situations where he can use his footwork or shuffle the ball on to Marcelo Montoya.
Titans are 5th for missed tackles while Warriors are 14th, so there is no shortage of Titans missing tackles. Brian Kelly (3.12) and Kieran Foran (2.75) are next behind Stimson and Kelly, defending on the other edge while Sam Verrills (3.2) is named to start at hooker and he is second behind Stimson for the most missed tackles per game in the Titans squad. Verrills will have to deal with runners such as Addin Fonua-Blake and Mitchell Barnett, as well as the passers who will target spaces either side of him.
This is all aligned with how Warriors break down their opponent. All season they have challenged defenders across the field, exposing lacklustre defenders in clinical fashion. If Warriors can settle into their systems, this could be another clinic of Warriors footy.
Alignment is amplified by the number of aggressive forwards on offer for Warriors. Jazz Tevaga is named on the extended bench and he may stay there for this game, perhaps popping up for NSW Cup the next day in Sydney. Tevaga could also be a late inclusion for Bunty Afoa, Bayley Sironen or Josh Curran and after deploying a more mobile/back-rowey bench against Raiders recently, perhaps coach Andrew Webster could opt for a ruthless forward pack against Titans.
Don't sleep on the depth of forwards who run hard and want to whack blokes; Addin Fonua-Blake, Mitchell Barnett, Marata Niukore, Bunty Afoa, Jazz Tevaga, Tom Ale, Demitric Sifakula, Zyon Maiu'u, Isaiah Vagana.
As well as being 5th for missed tackles, Titans are 16th for post contact metres. There is an opportunity here for Warriors to beat up the Titans, driving them back in tackles and steam-rolling them with the footy. Tevaga would help with that and while Warriors can't beat up all NRL teams, this specific match up could highlight Warriors brutality.
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Peace and love.