Warriors aim high
by: Aaron Lawton
Sportal
The NRL play-offs are beyond reach for the New Zealand Warriors this year but young five-eighth Jerome Ropati insists there is still plenty for the club to play for in the upcoming weeks.
The Warriors are set to host the struggling North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland and will be eyeing a victory to celebrate departing fullback Brent Webb's 100th first-grade game.
Heading into the clash fresh from a gritty 12-10 win over the Sharks last week, a win which coincided with departing veteran Awen Guttenbeil's testimonial match, Ropati says the side is desperate to give Webb an equally impressive send-off.
"We feel quite proud for Webby," he said.
"He's been a really big part of our club. He's been awesome at the back and it's kind of hard to replace a guy of his quality.
"Like we did for Awen, we are wanting to go out and play this weekend for Webby."
As for his own game, which has seen him flourish in the number six jumper this year, Ropati admits he has had to work hard to get used to the role.
"I feel like I'm improving game by game," he said.
The youngster, who stormed on the scene as a utility back at the end of 2003, attributes his rise through the ranks to head coach Ivan Cleary and assistant coach John Ackland.
"John Ackland and Ivan Cleary have helped me quite a bit with my game. They have helped me rediscover what the number six is all about," he said.
"Simple things such as passing and running with the ball and especially defence, I am learning to take them game by game.
"I want to improve in those areas and make sure that they become consistent before I do anything else special.
"I'm feeling pretty confident in the number six role but I still know that there is a lot of work to be done in order to be more consistent."
Looking ahead to Saturday's fixture against the Cowboys, Ropati says, although there are a number of dangerous players in the visiting side, his preparation has been to work on his own game.
"I think me and [halfback Grant] Rovelli have really been concentrating on our own games thus far," he said.
As for the fact that star playmaker Johnathan Thurston has been ruled out of the match through injury, Ropati still insists the Cowboys will be hard to dispatch.
"We have been up against quite a few combinations and I think Jonathan Thurston does give them a mental edge," he said.
"But, in saying that, me and Rovelli have really been concentrating on our own game."
by: Aaron Lawton
Sportal
The NRL play-offs are beyond reach for the New Zealand Warriors this year but young five-eighth Jerome Ropati insists there is still plenty for the club to play for in the upcoming weeks.
The Warriors are set to host the struggling North Queensland Cowboys on Saturday night at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland and will be eyeing a victory to celebrate departing fullback Brent Webb's 100th first-grade game.
Heading into the clash fresh from a gritty 12-10 win over the Sharks last week, a win which coincided with departing veteran Awen Guttenbeil's testimonial match, Ropati says the side is desperate to give Webb an equally impressive send-off.
"We feel quite proud for Webby," he said.
"He's been a really big part of our club. He's been awesome at the back and it's kind of hard to replace a guy of his quality.
"Like we did for Awen, we are wanting to go out and play this weekend for Webby."
As for his own game, which has seen him flourish in the number six jumper this year, Ropati admits he has had to work hard to get used to the role.
"I feel like I'm improving game by game," he said.
The youngster, who stormed on the scene as a utility back at the end of 2003, attributes his rise through the ranks to head coach Ivan Cleary and assistant coach John Ackland.
"John Ackland and Ivan Cleary have helped me quite a bit with my game. They have helped me rediscover what the number six is all about," he said.
"Simple things such as passing and running with the ball and especially defence, I am learning to take them game by game.
"I want to improve in those areas and make sure that they become consistent before I do anything else special.
"I'm feeling pretty confident in the number six role but I still know that there is a lot of work to be done in order to be more consistent."
Looking ahead to Saturday's fixture against the Cowboys, Ropati says, although there are a number of dangerous players in the visiting side, his preparation has been to work on his own game.
"I think me and [halfback Grant] Rovelli have really been concentrating on our own games thus far," he said.
As for the fact that star playmaker Johnathan Thurston has been ruled out of the match through injury, Ropati still insists the Cowboys will be hard to dispatch.
"We have been up against quite a few combinations and I think Jonathan Thurston does give them a mental edge," he said.
"But, in saying that, me and Rovelli have really been concentrating on our own game."
