From tvnz.co.nz
The New Zealand Warriors will look to be defensively strong around the ruck in their NRL clash with Parramatta on Saturday night.
The Eels made plenty of runs from dummy half in their loss to Newcastle last weekend, with hooker and former Warrior P J Marsh just one of a number of players involved.
The Warriors are expecting more of the same from Parramatta in Hamilton, five-eighth Jerome Ropati said.
"If you look at their stats last week, they ran from dummy half 44 times and we ran about 18," he said.
"So I think they'll be attacking from dummy half quite a bit."Marsh, who was among the Eels' best in their 25-6 defeat to the Knights, will start on the bench at Waikato Stadium, making way for the return of Mark Riddell from an ankle injury.
Like the Warriors in their 22-16 loss to Melbourne last Sunday, Parramatta made too many mistakes against Newcastle.
But Ropati predicted the Eels would come out "all guns blazing" at a ground where they beat the Warriors 28-18 last season.
The west Sydney club will have history on their side in what for them is a "home" fixture.
The Warriors have not won in New Zealand outside of Auckland in nine previous attempts, their best result being a 24-24 draw against the Bulldogs in Wellington in 2001.
He said the Warriors, while technically playing "away", could also bank on plenty of support from fans in the stands.
Meanwhile, Ropati was rapt to be back in his preferred position after having operated mainly in the centres last season.
He was also used as fullback cover for an injured Brent Webb, and occupied that role for his only test cap, against Australia in Brisbane last April.
His last appearance at five-eighth was in the round-nine match against Cronulla in Perth in May.
Ropati has been handed the No. 6 jersey because of the unavailability of first-choice Sione Faumuina, who is starting a two-week ban for a careless high tackle against the Storm.
"It's going to take a bit of time to adjust my game from centre, but I'm pretty excited," Ropati said.
"Six is more of a complicated role and I'm not going to push things this week. I'm just going back to the basics and getting familiar with the role again."
The New Zealand Warriors will look to be defensively strong around the ruck in their NRL clash with Parramatta on Saturday night.
The Eels made plenty of runs from dummy half in their loss to Newcastle last weekend, with hooker and former Warrior P J Marsh just one of a number of players involved.
The Warriors are expecting more of the same from Parramatta in Hamilton, five-eighth Jerome Ropati said.
"If you look at their stats last week, they ran from dummy half 44 times and we ran about 18," he said.
"So I think they'll be attacking from dummy half quite a bit."Marsh, who was among the Eels' best in their 25-6 defeat to the Knights, will start on the bench at Waikato Stadium, making way for the return of Mark Riddell from an ankle injury.
Like the Warriors in their 22-16 loss to Melbourne last Sunday, Parramatta made too many mistakes against Newcastle.
But Ropati predicted the Eels would come out "all guns blazing" at a ground where they beat the Warriors 28-18 last season.
The west Sydney club will have history on their side in what for them is a "home" fixture.
The Warriors have not won in New Zealand outside of Auckland in nine previous attempts, their best result being a 24-24 draw against the Bulldogs in Wellington in 2001.
He said the Warriors, while technically playing "away", could also bank on plenty of support from fans in the stands.
Meanwhile, Ropati was rapt to be back in his preferred position after having operated mainly in the centres last season.
He was also used as fullback cover for an injured Brent Webb, and occupied that role for his only test cap, against Australia in Brisbane last April.
His last appearance at five-eighth was in the round-nine match against Cronulla in Perth in May.
Ropati has been handed the No. 6 jersey because of the unavailability of first-choice Sione Faumuina, who is starting a two-week ban for a careless high tackle against the Storm.
"It's going to take a bit of time to adjust my game from centre, but I'm pretty excited," Ropati said.
"Six is more of a complicated role and I'm not going to push things this week. I'm just going back to the basics and getting familiar with the role again."
