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Craig HillPreview - 1st Qualifying Final Warriors vs Eels
September 7th 2007 00:24
VENUE and TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, 6.30pm AEST, Friday September 7
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 21, Warriors 7, Eels 14
COVERAGE: Channel 9 (delay), Fox Sports (delay), ABC Radio, 2GB
LAST TIME: Eels 30 – Warriors 6 at Parramatta Stadium, Round 11, 2007
MEDICAL ROOM:
Having experienced a dream run with injuries this season, the Warriors have lost exciting backs Manu Vatuvei and Jerome Ropati for the remainder of the finals series. Vatuvei suffered a kneecap dislocation during last Saturday’s victory over the Panthers, whilst Ropati has succumbed to a niggling shoulder injury. In brighter news for the Warriors, Ruben Wiki will make his return against the Eels after resting a rib injury last weekend.
Parramatta will be at full strength for this match, with both Luke Burt (knee) and Justin Tsoulos (shoulder) unlikely to return again this season. Eels coach Michael Hagan has been able to name the same 17 for the past four weeks.
FORM:
New Zealand cemented fourth spot and a home semi-final with their gutsy 24-20 win over the Panthers last Saturday. The Warriors overcame a determined start by Penrith, fighting their way back from a 0-14 deficit to secure their third win in their past four matches. The Warriors head into this season final series having won nine of their past twelve matches, including an imposing eight from twelve victory record at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Eels responded to a barrage of criticism for their poor recent form by producing a breathtaking 68-22 annihilation of the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday. It was a stunning performance by Parramatta considering they had lost their past three matches to slide out of the top four, with half Tim Smith responding to his critics with a particularly commanding performance. Parramatta’s recent form is not as bad as many would suggest, with the Eels match hardened by having played six of their past eight matches against top eight opposition.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Wade McKinnon vs Jarryd Hayne
McKinnon has been the Warriors backline standout this season, with the former Eel just pipped by one point by Matt Bowen for the Dally M Fullback of the year award last Tuesday night. The deceptively strong custodian enjoyed a stellar return from injury last weekend against the Panthers, registering 169 metres gained from 22 hit-ups and continuously menacing Penrith with his exquisite support play.
The Eels custodian enjoyed a welcome return to form against the Broncos last Sunday, producing a dazzling two try performance in his sides thirteen try demolition. In a dominant performance, Hayne coupled 18 runs for 220 metres gained, with four line breaks and three try assists. Hayne has been quiet in recent weeks since replacing the injured Luke Burt at fullback, but the Blues Origin representative has seemingly found his best form at the right end of the season. Look to Hayne to be given a free reign in attack this Friday night, with the Eels number one forming a lethal combination off the back of Smith’s accurate short passing game.
Steve Price vs Fuifui Moimoi
Fresh from receiving the Dally M captain and prop of the years awards this week, Price will be primed for a big match after having a quiet match by his high standards against the Panthers last weekend. The Warriors captain still led the way with his 24 hit-ups producing a match high 182 metres gained, and Price will appreciate the fact that his forward partner Ruben Wiki will be back to lend a hand.
Becoming somewhat of a cult hero, the Eels Moimoi has developed into the one of the NRL’s most damaging ball runners. Skittling defenders with his every charge, the Tongan prop forward has also developed an impressive passing game into his repertoire this season. Injected off the bench against the Broncos last Sunday, Moimoi was at his rampant best, with his 15 charges producing a massive 144 metres gained. Look for Moimoi to again start from the bench this Friday, as the Eels look to counter the impact of the Warriors bench juggernauts, Lauaki and Tuimavave.
VERDICT:
Two of the more physical forward units will battle out a tightly contested first qualifying final in Auckland this Friday, with the Warriors seemingly possessing a massive advantage of playing on front of a vocal, sold out home crowd. While the Eels ran rampant against the Broncos last weekend, they will not be afforded the same latitude against a much tighter Warriors defence.
The winner of this battle will come down to which team controls field position and completion rates better, with Parramatta holding a slight advantage in both of these areas. The Eels seemingly have more option in attack than their New Zealand counterparts, with the hooking combination of Riddell / Marsh just as lethal as the Smith / Finch halves combination.
In a real toss of the coin job, look for the Eels halves to create enough try scoring opportunities fro their scintillating backline to capitalise.
Eels by 4.
New Zealand Warriors Team -
Wade McKinnon, Patrick Ah Van, Todd Byrne, Simon Mannering, Michael Crockett, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Steve Price (c), Ruben Wiki (vc), Logan Swann, Micheal Luck
Bench - Wairangi Koopu, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Louis Anderson, George Gatis
Parramatta Eels Team -
Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Brett Finch, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless (c), Mark Riddell, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Feleti Mateo
Bench -
P.J. Marsh, Josh Cordoba, Chad Robinson, Daniel Wagon
Referee - Tony Archer
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 21, Warriors 7, Eels 14
COVERAGE: Channel 9 (delay), Fox Sports (delay), ABC Radio, 2GB
LAST TIME: Eels 30 – Warriors 6 at Parramatta Stadium, Round 11, 2007
MEDICAL ROOM:
Having experienced a dream run with injuries this season, the Warriors have lost exciting backs Manu Vatuvei and Jerome Ropati for the remainder of the finals series. Vatuvei suffered a kneecap dislocation during last Saturday’s victory over the Panthers, whilst Ropati has succumbed to a niggling shoulder injury. In brighter news for the Warriors, Ruben Wiki will make his return against the Eels after resting a rib injury last weekend.
Parramatta will be at full strength for this match, with both Luke Burt (knee) and Justin Tsoulos (shoulder) unlikely to return again this season. Eels coach Michael Hagan has been able to name the same 17 for the past four weeks.
FORM:
New Zealand cemented fourth spot and a home semi-final with their gutsy 24-20 win over the Panthers last Saturday. The Warriors overcame a determined start by Penrith, fighting their way back from a 0-14 deficit to secure their third win in their past four matches. The Warriors head into this season final series having won nine of their past twelve matches, including an imposing eight from twelve victory record at Mt Smart Stadium.
The Eels responded to a barrage of criticism for their poor recent form by producing a breathtaking 68-22 annihilation of the Brisbane Broncos last Sunday. It was a stunning performance by Parramatta considering they had lost their past three matches to slide out of the top four, with half Tim Smith responding to his critics with a particularly commanding performance. Parramatta’s recent form is not as bad as many would suggest, with the Eels match hardened by having played six of their past eight matches against top eight opposition.
KEY MATCH-UPS:
Wade McKinnon vs Jarryd Hayne
McKinnon has been the Warriors backline standout this season, with the former Eel just pipped by one point by Matt Bowen for the Dally M Fullback of the year award last Tuesday night. The deceptively strong custodian enjoyed a stellar return from injury last weekend against the Panthers, registering 169 metres gained from 22 hit-ups and continuously menacing Penrith with his exquisite support play.
The Eels custodian enjoyed a welcome return to form against the Broncos last Sunday, producing a dazzling two try performance in his sides thirteen try demolition. In a dominant performance, Hayne coupled 18 runs for 220 metres gained, with four line breaks and three try assists. Hayne has been quiet in recent weeks since replacing the injured Luke Burt at fullback, but the Blues Origin representative has seemingly found his best form at the right end of the season. Look to Hayne to be given a free reign in attack this Friday night, with the Eels number one forming a lethal combination off the back of Smith’s accurate short passing game.
Steve Price vs Fuifui Moimoi
Fresh from receiving the Dally M captain and prop of the years awards this week, Price will be primed for a big match after having a quiet match by his high standards against the Panthers last weekend. The Warriors captain still led the way with his 24 hit-ups producing a match high 182 metres gained, and Price will appreciate the fact that his forward partner Ruben Wiki will be back to lend a hand.
Becoming somewhat of a cult hero, the Eels Moimoi has developed into the one of the NRL’s most damaging ball runners. Skittling defenders with his every charge, the Tongan prop forward has also developed an impressive passing game into his repertoire this season. Injected off the bench against the Broncos last Sunday, Moimoi was at his rampant best, with his 15 charges producing a massive 144 metres gained. Look for Moimoi to again start from the bench this Friday, as the Eels look to counter the impact of the Warriors bench juggernauts, Lauaki and Tuimavave.
VERDICT:
Two of the more physical forward units will battle out a tightly contested first qualifying final in Auckland this Friday, with the Warriors seemingly possessing a massive advantage of playing on front of a vocal, sold out home crowd. While the Eels ran rampant against the Broncos last weekend, they will not be afforded the same latitude against a much tighter Warriors defence.
The winner of this battle will come down to which team controls field position and completion rates better, with Parramatta holding a slight advantage in both of these areas. The Eels seemingly have more option in attack than their New Zealand counterparts, with the hooking combination of Riddell / Marsh just as lethal as the Smith / Finch halves combination.
In a real toss of the coin job, look for the Eels halves to create enough try scoring opportunities fro their scintillating backline to capitalise.
Eels by 4.
New Zealand Warriors Team -
Wade McKinnon, Patrick Ah Van, Todd Byrne, Simon Mannering, Michael Crockett, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Steve Price (c), Ruben Wiki (vc), Logan Swann, Micheal Luck
Bench - Wairangi Koopu, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Louis Anderson, George Gatis
Parramatta Eels Team -
Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu, Ben Smith, Timana Tahu, Eric Grothe, Brett Finch, Tim Smith, Nathan Cayless (c), Mark Riddell, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Ian Hindmarsh, Feleti Mateo
Bench -
P.J. Marsh, Josh Cordoba, Chad Robinson, Daniel Wagon
Referee - Tony Archer
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