For the first time, New Zealand will play host to an NRL double header, which will feature both of last year’s grand finalists, the improving Wests Tigers and the undefeated locals, the New Zealand Warriors.
The first match of the double-header sees the Melbourne Storm face off with the Wests Tigers for the second time in four weeks, while the second sees the Warriors attempt to go 5-0 for the first time in club history when they tackle the struggling North Queensland Cowboys.
The Storm’s premiership defence has got off to a shaky start, going win-loss-win-loss in their opening four matches, with the losses coming to the Tigers, their opponents on Saturday afternoon, and the Sharks last week.
A whopping 33 penalties were blown in the clash of the 2016 grand finalists, in which Storm, Queensland and Australian captain Cameron Smith, quite possibly the most hated man in New South Wales, was sin-binned in the second half for backchatting.
This came after 2016 Clive Churchill Medallist Luke Lewis was sin-binned after he was ruled to have tripped Billy Slater in the first half.
In their other loss of the season, they were held to only eight points in what was Slater’s 300th game, as the Tigers implemented a defensive-structured game plan which they had used to great effect against the Roosters in Round 1.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Last week, Ivan Cleary’s men produced their best attacking performance so far this season to defeat the Parramatta Eels 30-20, and it’s fair to say that they could so easily have been undefeated if not for a controversial penalty in their 9-7 loss to the Brisbane Broncos at Campbelltown the previous week.
This week marks exactly a year since Cleary took the reins as Tigers coach, and the hard work he has put in since then is starting to pay off after his predecessor, Jason Taylor, was sacked three rounds into last season.
A second win over the Storm in a month could provide another stepping stone as they bid to defy the odds all over again, having also upset premiership heavyweights the Sydney Roosters in the opening round.
The second game will see the New Zealand Warriors attempt to win their first five matches of a season for the first time in their history when they host the struggling Cowboys.
Tipped by many to take out the wooden spoon at the start of the year, the Warriors have shown commitment in both attack and defence, scoring wins over the Rabbitohs, Titans, Raiders and Roosters, with only the win over the Titans coming on their home soil.
Making their win over the Chooks all the more impressive was the fact that they were missing Shaun Johnson due to a groin injury – it was also their first win without him in the side since late 2014.
In his place, Mason Lino played the match of his life, lined up opposite former Queensland Origin halfback Cooper Cronk, whose impact at the Roosters has become instant, as evidenced in their wins over the Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights prior to the shocker against the Warriors.
For their efforts, the Warriors sit second on the ladder only behind the St George Illawarra Dragons on percentage.
However, Johnson is expected to return for the clash against the Cowboys, who after beating the Sharks in Round 1 have dropped their past three matches, the latest of them a 33-14 loss to the Penrith Panthers at home.
(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
This would see a marquee match-up between Johnson and Johnathan Thurston, who will retire at the end of the season but not before another possible match-up with his New Zealand counterpart in Townsville in Round 15.
Cowboys coach Paul Green questioned his side’s attitude after their loss to the Melbourne Storm in Round 3, and it appears as though his words fell on deaf ears as the 2015 premiers crashed to their third straight loss.
But while they have won their last four matches against the Warriors, they will start underdogs on Saturday night against a side which appears to finally be playing to their potential after six years without finals action.
With this being their first appearance in New Zealand since 2015, the Cowboys will want to use this road trip out of Townsville to break out of their current form slump, however, against the Warriors, it will not come easy.
RoryStorm
Guest
As a Storm supporter I find it rather sad to see my team playing like an also ran. We are obviously missing Cronk who would guide the team around the park. Young Croft was sensational last year but he had many senior players around him. Now that the other youngster Curtis Scott is a regular in the side that means even less big game players in the backline. Come Saturday we are going to be left with a lot less experience in the backline with Chambers missing. McClean and Harris were vital members of our premiership team. Big Sammy and Hoffman are experienced players but I don't think they are having the same effect in amongst the forwards. Cameron Smith said his goal this year was to go "back to back." In my opinion this is not going to happen unfortunately. To say the Storm need to improve very quickly is an understatement or they run the risk of being left behind. The only thing that Storm supporters can take solace in is the majority of the other sides are struggling also. Can anyone out there tell me if Cheyse Blair is available for selection? I'm looking forward to the double header on Saturday. The NRL should be playing more double headers in Auckland. It's great times for the NRL if the Warriors can keep this standard of football going week in, week out.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
They didn't envisage the Warriors having such a great start otherwise these games would have been at Eden Park in front of more speccies.
KingCowboy
Guest
Jimmmy my young friend, plan is to start slow and come home like a freight train. Remember 2015, everyone was writing us off after 4 weeks. Of more concern is that Coach Green hasn't signed a new contract yet!
Albo
Guest
Spot on Sean ! What used to the Storms best side in both attack & defence ( via Cronk, Kaufusi, Chambers & Vunuvalu with Slater chiming in as well) is now missing Cronk, Kaufusi , & Chambers, and Vunivalu is way out of form and even Slater is overplaying his hand trying to make up for the rest ! Smith too seems to be struggling a bit at present ? The Tigers have good chance of doing the double over the premiers here if Benji and his forwards can hold their form.
Jimmmy
Guest
I like your confidence KC. I really hope you are right. We have been very poor so far this season . Hangover from 12017. ? Our forwards have been poor overall. We run one out way too often and our lack of pace out wide is also going against us. We need to be a little more adventurous in attack and a little more committed on defense. It will come. We have too good a pack for it not to turn around . It starts this weekend.
KingCowboy
Guest
word coming out of Cowboy HQ is that the cows are in for a big one this w/e. We will win by 20
Nat
Roar Guru
Considering form vs history, this will be one of the best RL events for the Kiwis to get out and watch. The Tigers attack stepped up a few notches last week were their 1st clash was a dour affair, this one has the potential to be a cracker. In the main game, the Warriors are flying high and with their HGA, I expect them to get the chocolates against a rusty but very experienced Cowboys outfit.
sean
Guest
Going to be a couple of great games at a packed stadium. Tigers getting written off again as usual. Storm are not like last year, they are vulnerable in quite a few areas. The loss of chambers is huge for the storm. If I was Cleary Id be aiming my attack down that side of the field against young/suli all day.