General Preview: Warriors v Knights

[mosh_old]

WALKING WOUNDED
For the Warriors, winger Todd Byrne remains on the sidelines for a further six weeks with a broken arm.
Injury-prone Knights fullback David Seage has overcome a hamstring problem that has kept him out since round 11 and will start in the number one jersey. Matt Gidley makes an earlier-than-expected return from an eye socket injury in the centres, but Milton Thaiday (ankle) and Jarod Mullen (hand fracture) require another week of recovery.

FORM
The Warriors registered just their second win in Australia this season by overcoming a depleted Roosters at the weekend. The platform for the victory was set in the first-half when the Kiwi-based side completed an astonishing 95 percent of their sets to starve the young Roosters of possession. If only Ivan Cleary could get his troops to do stuff like this on a weekly basis.
The Knights are coming off a bye and consecutive losses against the Dragons and Bulldogs. They started well against Dogs in round 13, but went on to make 15 errors in the match, giving their opposition too much possession. They remain in third position on percentages.

WHO'S HOT
Warriors skipper Steve Price will become the 50th player to make 250 first-grade games when he takes the field on Sunday. Ironically Price's front-row partner, Ruben Wiki, became the 49th player to reach the same milestone back in round six of this season.
For the Knights, Kurt Gidley has starred since shifting to fullback over the last couple of weeks in the absence of David Seage and Milton Thaiday. In a losing side against the Bulldogs in round 13, he clocked up 206 metres from 18 runs and the week previous against the Dragons he scored a try and made several line-breaks. The return of Seage this week pushes the younger Gidley brother back to five-eighth.

WHO'S NOT
Knights forward Adam Woolnough paid the price for a lacklustre effort against the Bulldogs by being demoted to the interchange bench for this match. He made just 86 metres from 10 runs to be his side's most ineffective forward.

KEY MATCH-UPS
Steve Price v Craig Smith
Nathan Fien v Danny Buderus
Louis Anderson v Steve Simpson

LIKE TO SEE
The Warriors maintain their new-found respect for possession.

WOULDN'T LIKE TO SEE
Andrew Johns continue his sluggish form. 'Joey' quit Origin football this season to concentrate on the Knights, but he has struggled during the Origin period and it has shown in Newcastle's results.

WE THINK
The Warriors rarely put two good performances together and the Knights will be desperate to turn around some rather ordinary form over the last fortnight. Expect Danny Buderus and Andrew Johns to carve the Warriors up off the back of a strong forward performance. The Kiwi-based side simply doesn't back-up well after a win - even at home. Knights by 16.

Hmm doesnt look like sportal rate us at all. I guess its fair that we dont backup well after a win but surely a closer game than a 16 point hiding.

 

[Jesbass_old]

At least nrl.com has us losing in the 1-12 range, lol...

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

At least nrl.com has us losing in the 1-12 range, lol...

mmm yeah that's very kind of them! haha

 

[warriors4life_old]

Joey and Buderus will carve us up? Please.

I thought one of the key match-ups would be Rovelli Vs Johns, Rookie Vs Veteran

 

[Jesbass_old]

Actually, speaking of those matchups, I see us winning the first one, losing the second one, and possibly drawing the third.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

Joey and Buderus will carve us up? Please.

I thought one of the key match-ups would be Rovelli Vs Johns, Rookie Vs Veteran

Yeah I'm looking forward to that one for sure

 

[warriorfaithful*_old]

KNIGHTS BY 16!!!!!!!!!! Are they crazy lol. Warriors will win by im guessin 8

 

[sebastian_old]

I hope Price is not on the bench it caused major confusion against the sharks. he either starts or gets rested, evarn is killing it, he's young & his enthusiuasm is just what our forwards needed. This game can be won in the forwards, its as simple as that.

 

[sebastian_old]

*edit*

 

[Wiki_old]

I agreed with what someone said last time.

Stick Ruben in 12, Evarn and Price to start.

 

[sebastian_old]

I agreed with what someone said last time.

Stick Ruben in 12, Evarn and Price to start.

Damn good idea!! Unfortunatly wiki's not a prop anymore, but he'd kill it on the back row. Who'd would ya bench, louie or awen?

 

[commonsense_old]

i think wiki is a fine prop. he is just on a little slump right now. his preference is to play prop.

 

[Warrior_Hot_Stepper_old]

i agree with a few you fellow warriors, stick wiki at no11, pricey and evarn to start at props and awen on the bench he comes off the bench pretty good or bring a young gun in onto the bench.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

Some reckon Wiki's not playing as good as usual so then maybe a positional swap could be helpful. He does look a bit laboured at times esp against the Roosters last weekend...and a bit against the Broncos from the week before. Make me wonder if it's going anything to do with his pre-hamstring injury earlier in the year?! :-S

 

[warriors4life_old]

i agree with a few you fellow warriors, stick wiki at no11, pricey and evarn to start at props and awen on the bench he comes off the bench pretty good or bring a young gun in onto the bench.

Yeah, that forward pack would be pretty dynamic, and Awen on the bench because he plays very well off the bench.