- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The Warriors good pre-season form appeared to dissolve in their loss last week against the Eels, while the Dragons’ poor pre-season form also seemed to dissolve in their win against the lowly Tigers.
But for both the Warriors and Dragons, defence was a common concern.
The Warriors were particularly weak in their outside defence, with each of the Eels’ wingers collecting three tries and it is certain Gareth Widdop and the Dragons centres and wingers will attempt to exploit any Warriors’ weakness out wide.
Widdop was involved in four of the Dragons’ seven tries last weekend against the Tigers and had a perfect kicking record and the Dragons will be looking for a repeat performance.
Michael Witt played well and with enthusiasm at halfback last weekend until injured and replaced by Kyle Stanley, who also played well.
Witt is out with a dislocated shoulder and has been replaced by ex-Canberra half Sam Williams, with Stanley being retained as a bench utility.
Dragons forward Jack de Belin has been replaced by Bronson Harrison, who joins the bench.
The Warriors were weak in both attack and defence against the Eels and need to go back to basics if they are to win this match.
The Warriors’ coach has nevertheless shown confidence in his team and made minimal changes to the team that lost badly to the Eels, with the most interesting being the inclusion of Jerome Ropati at centre – maybe to help plug some of those gaps out wide.
Despite winning well against the Tigers, the Dragons will need to improve on their defence against the Warriors if they are to have a chance of winning away from home.
But the Dragons’ coach has been equally reluctant to make changes to his winning team, even though, for example, Dylan Farrell in the centres did not perform well against the Tigers.
It will be a question of which side wants this win most, particularly given that they play twice this year.
The Warriors should be hungrier for the points, but the Dragons, although winners last up, will also be desperate for points as they face a horror run starting in Round 5 when they play the Rabbitohs followed by Storm, Warriors, Roosters, Bulldogs, Eels, bye and Rabbitohs again.
It could go either way, but the Warriors’ coach must have been tempted to test his reserve strength and make more changes to their losing side.
I will go for the Dragons in a close match.
Warriors
1. Sam Tomkins 2. Glen Fisiiahi 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Jerome Ropati 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Chad Townsend 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Sam Rapira 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ben Matulino 11. Jayson Bukuya 12. Simon Mannering (c) 13. John Palavi
Interchange: 14. Jacob Lillyman 15. Suaia Matagi 16. Ben Henry 17. Feleti Mateo 20. Sione Lousi (one to be omitted)
Dragons
1. Adam Quinlan 2. Brett Morris 3. Dylan Farrell 4. Gerard Beale 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Jason Nightingale 7. Sam Williams 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Mitch Rein 10. Dan Hunt 11. Leeson Ah Mau 12. Ben Creagh (c) 13. Trent Merrin
Interchange 14. Bronson Harrison 15. Kyle Stanley 16. Joel Thompson 17. Mike Cooper
Reckon you can pick the winning team? Build your own dream team with Draftstars daily fantasy and compete on any match. For great odds on the NRL head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.