SATURDAY ,JULY 6th, 2024 ACCOR STADIUM, SYDNEY
Super Saturday Begins with Bulldogs Hosting Warriors
Super Saturday kicks off with the Canterbury Bulldogs hosting the New Zealand Warriors at Accor Stadium, which has become a fortress for a team defying the odds in 2024.
The home side has continued to perform better than expected while the Warriors are still trying to find the form that gave birth to the cries of ‘Up the Wahs’ last year.
Bulldogs Show Resilience in Narrow Win Over Sharks
Scraping by last week in a 15-14 nailbiter against the Cronulla Sharks, Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo was pleased his boys stayed in the fight. However, with 45 missed tackles, the second-best defensive team in the competition will need to step up their game in training this week to be ready for a Warriors outfit fresh off a victory in the last round.
Matt Burton’s Precision and Bulldogs’ Determination
On paper, it would be easy to say the Bulldogs shouldn’t have won last week, but resilience and a desire to win is getting them over the line when it matters. A lack of errors and Matt Burton’s kicking kept the Bulldogs in the fight. And it was good to see that even after two field goal misses, Mat Burton had the confidence to make it a third time lucky and give the Doggies a win over the Cronulla, giving them every chance to be in the finals this year.
Player Updates and Team News
After a stint on the sideline through concussion protocols, zippy full-back Connor Tracy will be back in number 1. Kurt Mann has completed his two-game suspension and will be available for selection, likely starting from the bench.
Warriors Regain Form
After what was an embarrassing effort in the previous round, Warriors coach Webster was determined for his team not to repeat that performance. His emphasis seemed to work, as the Warriors found rhythm in the halves, facilitating momentum in the middle with players such as Addin Founa-Blake and Mitch Barnett. The boot of Te Maire Martin and his cool head in the number 7 jersey was vital in the 32-16 win against the undermanned Broncos.
Unchanged Line-up
A bonus from the Warriors’ victory against the Broncos was the absence of injuries, prompting Webster to name the same 17 players to face the Bulldogs at Accor Stadium on Saturday.
LATE MAIL. Tohu Harris is out with an injury.
Line- Ups
Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore , 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Dylan Walker 16. Jazz Tevaga , 17. Jackson Ford 18. Jacob Laban 20. Taine Tuaupiki 21. Ali Leiataua 22. Bunty Afoa , 23. Leka Halasima
Bulldogs
1. Connor Tracey 2. Jacob Kiraz 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Stephen Crichton, 5. Blake Wilson 6. Matt Burton 7. Toby Sexton 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney , 10. Samuel Hughes 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Jaeman Salmon 13. Bailey Hayward 14. Kurt Mann , 15. Josh Curran 16. Kurtis Morrin 17. Lipoi Hopoi 19. Jeral Skelton 20. Jake Turpin, 21. Blake Taaffe 22. Harry Hayes 23. Jack Todd
Referee. Chris Butler, Touch Judges, Drew Oultram, Daniel Luttringer. Bunker, Adam Gee.
Prediction.
Connor Tracy and Jacob Kiraz are excelling in kick returns, with Kiraz leading the league in return meters. These two workhorses show no fear, and Kiraz’s prowess is evident as he ranks in the top ten of the league for line breaks as well.
Matt Burton boasts one of the league’s top kicking games, consistently gaining significant meters to finish their sets. This allows his team ample time to set their defensive line against the opposition’s fresh set of six. Burton’s high, hanging bombs will be a key tactic, aimed at testing the Warriors’ back three.
Addin Founa-Blake and Mitch Barnett recorded significant post-contact meters in their last game, which is unsurprising given that AFB leads the league in this statistic and Barnett ranks in the top five behind him. The Bulldogs’ pack will likely focus on slowing them down to prevent the Warriors from gaining momentum in the middle.
The Warriors will try hard, but I think the Dogs will get the chocolates.
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