NZ WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
Game 1: 6pm,Go Media Stadium, Auckland, NZ
New Zealand Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Taine Tuaupiki 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Adam Pompey, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Kurt Capewell 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark 14. Dylan Walker 15. Jackson Ford 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Leka Halasima 18. Samuel Healey 20. Te Maire Martin 21. Eddie Ieremia 22. Bunty Afoa 23. Edward Kosi
Changes from last match:
In: Samuel Healey (reserve), Te Maire Martin (reserve), Eddie Ieremia-Toeava (reserve), Bunty Afoa (reserve), Edward Kosi (reserve)
Changes: Jackson Ford (front row to bench), Mitchell Barnett (lock to front row), Erin Clark (bench to lock)
Andrew Webster has kept faith with his new halves pairing of Chanel Harris-Tavita at five-eighth and Luke Metcalf at halfback, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad at fullback and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing for Round 2. It is a fair call given one game in Vegas is not a fair sample size to shelve a plan they spent all off-season working on, but it still remains to be seen if it is the best balance for the side. Te Maire Martin put in some excellent shifts at halfback last year and Metcalf’s best footy in first grade has come at five-eighth. It remains to be seen if the Warriors have the kicking game to compete with the likes of Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly, with Metcalf and Harris-Tavita in the halves. The decision on Tuivasa-Sheck is even more confounding. From the outside looking in the Warriors lose nothing in shifting Nicoll-Klokstad to centre, but are potentially missing out on an amazing attacking weapon by keeping Tuibvasa-Sheck on the wing and out of the fullback role. If you have won a Dally M Medal at fullback, you obviously offer a fair bit in the No.1 and if the Warriors keep losing, Webster will surely have to have a rethink of his spine.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
1. Tom Trbojevic 2. Jason Saab 3. Tolutau Koula 4. Reuben Garrick 5. Lehi Hopoate 6. Luke Brooks 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Taniela Paseka 9. Jazz Tevaga 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Ben Trbojevic 13. Jake Trbojevic 14. Jake Simpkin 15. Corey Waddell 16. Ethan Bullemor 17. Toafofoa Sipley 18. Clayton Faulalo 19. Tommy Talau 20. Gordon Chan Kum Tong 21. Jakob Arthur 22. Dean Matterson
Changes from last match:
Out: Siosiua Taukeiaho (front row)
In: Josh Aloiai (front row), Clayton Faulalo (bench), Tommy Talau (bench), Gordon Chan Kum Tong (reserve), Jakob Arthur (reserve), Dean Matterson (reserve)
Referees, Adam Gee, Touch Judges, Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski, Michael Wise, Bunker, Chris Butler;
Apart from the Broncos, Manly were arguably the most impressive team in Round 1 after demolishing the Cowboys 42-12. But as Daly Cherry-Evans said, it is just a good start and Manly have a history of being inconsistent in recent seasons. Sio Siua Taukeiaho is out with a knee injury after just one game, so the onus is on Josh Aloiai to step up in his absence. Manly have a devastating backline with DCE and Brooks in the halves and Tom Trboevic, Jason Saab and Lehi Hopoate out wide, but they need their forwards to continue to set the platform up front. Haumole Olakau’atu was immense against the Cowboys, but the Warriors away from home will be a tougher test and Manly can’t get complacent. If they want to be a legitimate contender in 2025, Manly need to find consistency early and bank wins, especially with five of their first seven games at home.
PREDICTION
The Warriors were very disappointing in their opening round loss to the Raiders two weeks ago and must overcome any Vegas hangovers if they are to stand any chance of winning this one. Lets face it, they were terrible. They are at home in front of what will be a packed house, they can’t possibly play any worse and they should be a team who bounce back to avoid going 0-2. But, look who they are playing against! The Sea Eagles were devastating last week against the Cowboys and I can’t tip against them in this. Manly by a dozen points.
GAME 2 :PENRITH PANTHERS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS
8pm,Commbank Stadium, Sydney
PENRITH PANTHERS
1. Dylan Edwards 2. Casey McLean 3. Izack Tago 4. Paul Alamoti 5. Brian To’o, 6. Jack Cole 7. Nathan Cleary 8. Moses Leota 9. Mitch Kenny 10. Lindsay Smith 11. Scott Sorensen 12. Liam Martin 13. Isaah Yeo 14. Daine Laurie 15. Isaiah Papali’i 16. Matt Eisenhuth 17. Luke Garner 18. Brad Schneider 19. Luron Patea 20. Liam Henry 21. Luke Sommerton 22. Thomas Jenkins
Changes from last match:
In: Brian To’o (wing), Brad Schneider (reserve), Liam Henry (reserve), Luke Sommerton (reserve), Thomas Jenkins (reserve)
Changes: Luke Garner (centre to bench), Paul Alamoti (wing to centre)
Remarkably the biggest problem Ivan Cleary has is how to fit all his talented players in the 17. Blaize Talagi was brought to the club as a star signing to cover for the loss of Jarome Luai, but a shoulder injury has given Jack Cole the jump in the race to the No.6 jersey. Cole looks a solid player and has more reps in the halves, but Talagi is an awesome talent and he wouldn’t have left the Eels to play reserve grade. Whether Talagi gets a run in the centres with Paul Alamoti shifting to the wing to get him some footy in the coming weeks remains to be seen. Cole will have to slip up or the Panthers start losing to justify dropping him at this stage, while Talagi reportedly has a lot of learning to do to become a consistent NRL playmaker. Cleary may have to get him in the team either in the centres or on the bench to get his confidence up after his shoulder injury, while trying to get him up to speed at five-eighth at training. But if he is the long-term solution at No.6 the best experience he can get is playing in the jersey.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Mark Nawaqanitawase 4. Robert Toia, 5. Dominic Young 6. Sandon Smith 7. Chad Townsend 8. Lindsay Collins, 9. Connor Watson 10. Naufahu Whyte 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong , 13. Salesi Foketi 14. Zach Dockar-Clay 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Blake Steep , 17. Taylor Losalu 18. Hugo Savala 19. Ethan Roberts 20. Ethan King 21. Max McCathie, 22. Billy Smith
Changes from last match:
Out: Victor Radley (second row)
In: Makahesi Makatoa (bench), Hugo Savala (reserve), Ethan Roberts (reserve), Ethan King (reserve), Max McCathie (reserve), Billy Smith (reserve)
Changes: Siua Wong (lock to second row), Salesi Foketi (bench to lock)
Referees, Todd Smith, Touch Judges, Belinda Sharpe, Phil Henderson, Bunker, Grant Atkins.
The Roosters were the biggest disappointments in Round 1 after their 50-14 thrashing by the Broncos and things can’t get much tougher against the four-time reigning premiers next up. The Roosters have beaten the Panthers and Storm just once in their last 20-odd games, so it is hard to see them beating Penrith given their horror record in recent matches between the two sides. However, Trent Robinson’s men need to show a lot more commitment and as he put it “smarts” in defence to give Roosters fans some hope for the season ahead. Not helping matters is the loss of veteran forward Victor Radley to concussion, while the young centre pairing of Mark Nawaqanitawase and Robert Toia have a lot of work to do on their edge defence with Nat Butcher still side lined. Halves Sandon Smith and Chad Townsend have a huge task to create opportunities to score enough points to beat the Panthers, given Sam Walker and Luke Keary struggled to do so. But unless the Roosters can get back closer to their famed brick wall of defence, this could be a long night at the office against Penrith.
PREDICTION
The Panthers were clinical against the Sharks in Vegas, showing that they will be well in the running for a fifth straight premiership. The Roosters started well enough against the Broncos, but it was all a facade which quickly crumbled as the Broncos ran up a cricket score. The Rooster are a candidate for a bounce back this weekend, but they simply don’t have the talent to get home over the Panthers at their temporary Parramatta home ground. Penrith by a dozen, maybe more.
Here’s the scope on Saturday’s Game!!
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