I agree. Lewis seems to have a good eye for 40/20. Other than that, him and Prince should just keep putting high ones over VATUVEI - should be an easy way of retaining possession ...........
I was a bit worried with all the talk about Rogers in Origin to whether we could pull the win off, but now I'm confident. If we do win, I reckon it'll be by a big margin..... 13+
Last edited by Ryan; 27-06-07 at 04:53 PM.
Titans v Warriors preview
Wednesday, June 27, 2007 - 4:12 PM
Before last weekend?s games this would have been called a no-brainer to the Titans but such was the form demonstrated by the Warriors ? even though it was against the lowly Panthers ? this game perhaps becomes the most intriguing of the round.
The home side now has four scalps on the trot, including narrow but decisive wins over the Wests Tigers (away) and Knights (home).
They have won five of their six games at Carrara and sit in fourth position on the ladder.
The Warriors have been the NRL?s underachievers but with two good wins after a horror six-game losing streak they seem to have their 2007 campaign back on a solid footing and lurk in 10th spot just out of the finals zone on points for and against.
They kept the Sharks tryless at Cronulla a fortnight ago before turning on the afterburners last week to annihilate the Panthers in a nine-try blitz ? with six in the first half.
Both sides lose some significant strike power for this clash ? the Titans are without Luke Bailey (Origin) and Anthony Laffranchi (out four weeks with an injured knee) while the Warriors lose Steve Price to Origin.
Watch out Titans: Scott Prince had better improve on his 53 per cent record of kicking to open space ? down the other end this week is Wade McKinnon, ranked second in the NRL for kick returns (70 runs for 836 metres at an average of 11.9 metres a run).
He made the Panthers pay last week with a kick-return try and made a season-high four line breaks plus two try assists.
He?s strong and evasive too ? his 10 tackle breaks last week took his season tally to 81 (6.75 average per game).
Watch out Warriors: Attitude and commitment will mean everything this week, especially given the Warriors? woeful record when they venture this side of the Tasman ? they?ve won just two of six games away.
Where it will be won: It all boils down to who can overcome the loss of key players Bailey, Laffranchi and Price the best.
Bailey?s record at representative level speaks for itself but Laffranchi and Price have been the heart and soul for their respective teams all year and there?s no question both sides will struggle for direction without them on the park.
Here?s why: Laffranchi has made 479 tackles (eighth most in the NRL); Price has made the most runs in the NRL (267), with Laffranchi second on 261; Laffranchi ranks second in the NRL with 35 offloads while Price ranks 15th with 18; and Price has made more metres in the comp (2,261 ? including 220 last week) than any other player.
Meanwhile, Laffranchi and Bailey have clawed out a combined 3,598 metres for the Titans. Neither side has players who?ve come close to this kind of input so someone is going to have to dig deep.
The History: Yet to play.
Conclusion: Expect this to be an open affair with a lot of points scored.
The Titans will be forced to rely heavily on the sparkling duo of Prince and Mat Rogers (12 line breaks ? second in NRL) although out wide for the Warriors Simon Mannering is doing a magnificent job of shutting down plays with 34 one-on-one tackles.
Matt Peterson bagged the new franchise?s first hat-trick of tries last week and should add to that tally.
There?s no reason the Warriors won?t continue to chance their arm, even from within their own half ? after all, they have scored 10 tries from this area, which is 20 per cent of all their four-pointers and the most in the NRL. Just look at the offload counts in their backline ? McKinnon 17, Mannering 10, Manu Vatuvai 13, Michael Witt 15 and Grant Rovelli 14. For the Titans just Rogers (11) has cracked double figures. Should be entertaining at least.
Match officials: Referee ? Shayne Hayne; Sideline Officials ? Rod Lawrence & Gerard Sutton; Video ref ? Pat Reynolds.
Televised: FoxSports 3 ? Live 5.30pm.
* Statistics: NRL Stats.
Taken from nrl.com
Sorry, double post
Last edited by bigjim; 27-06-07 at 11:58 PM.
I'm worried about the Warriors without Bailey or Laffranchi.
There big and mean and the Titans will have to gang tackle,getting as many dominant tackles as possible. They must slow the play down at every opportunity. Second phase play from the Warriors is there most dangerous weapon.
If the Titans can weather the Warrior storm in the first half of each half then fitness might get them home. The Warriors are vulnerable to fatigue late in the game with fast play the ball around the dummy half.
Last edited by bigjim; 28-06-07 at 12:00 AM.
Our forwards have shown a lack of aggression with Bailey and Laffranchi off the field, so with them both missing for this match, it could be tough.
Swain has been slowly improving, and this week is back in a position he's familiar with (with Sattler and Waterhouse both 80 minute players at lock, he didn't play much in that position at Penrith), so hopefully can step up a notch.
I think we should win this, just need to stay disciplined and not let our forwards get overrun.
warriors are without price, n his one of their key man
iam a bit worrid about us tackling the big forwards, getting tired then mickidden craving us up
in saying that, their forwards will get tired easy then friend/amos/campbell will slice em up
Actually the Warriors "Big Forward pack" is abit of a myth these days in that once this might have been true, but in recent seasons they are actually a more mobile unit that can really get an offload away when they play with some confidence.
Gang tackling may only commit more players and open the gaps even further just begging for an offload to send the likes of Mckinnon away down the centre of the ruck.
Although, without Price, there will be alot of go forward lost so if the Titans can shut off that 2nd phase play their halves can get into position to dominate their part of the game.
I reckon the Warriors will miss Price more than we miss Bailey (we won without him aganist Wests).
Just remember Prince & Lewis will have to kick it to MANU~~!!!!!!!
just read in paper jake webster is in a bit of doubt
foam or injury u rkn? :S
sam sameu or paea will come into the side if he does not make it
sydney morning herald
just on the radio webster is out and will be replaced by samau
Just one word....
CONFIDENCE
Have confidence in the team and recognise they want the win as much as we do. We are coming into the business end of the series and are well placed. The boys will not slack off now with or without the gun players.
The way I see the Titans differ from other clubs is that each individual is exactly that...an individual more than willing to play as a team. No heroes...all equals.
In the past the mindset of other teams that the entire game is carried by one or two players has had devastating effects on the game outcome. Those heroes are injured or out for Origin and the team fall in a heap. Not so with the Titans. As individuals they have all got something special to bring to the team and this is why the Titans are that little bit better. Being the new kids on the paddock they have the experience of their prior teams, the observations of a great coach in knowing what to avoid and a burn to be number one!
Titans are a little like a stirring dragon, Don't underestimate their ability. They may not make the grand final this year...but who knows?
Let's not get too involved with the immediate game predictions but look forward and know we have the team to do it.
As for this weekend and the Warriors? They tire easily with sustained defense and pushing them back.
Personally I feel good about this outing. I know the boys will be prepared for the big Kiwi team and know what it is going to take to bring them to their knees. Persistence.
PW
Last edited by Panthers Wolf; 29-06-07 at 06:53 PM.
Defeat is not when you fall down but when you refuse to get up.
Could not have said it better mate, I think us being so much littler than the Warriors will be an advantage, I dont know about you guys but i find tackling little players is alot harder than bigger.Just one word....
CONFIDENCE
Have confidence in the team and recognise they want the win as much as we do. We are coming into the business end of the series and are well placed. The boys will not slack off now with or without the gun players.
The way I see the Titans differ from other clubs is that each individual is exactly that...an individual more than willing to play as a team. No heroes...all equals.
In the past the mindset of other teams that the entire game is carried by one or two players has had devastating effects on the game outcome. Those heroes are injured or out for Origin and the team fall in a heap. Not so with the Titans. As individuals they have all got something special to bring to the team and this is why the Titans are that little bit better. Being the new kids on the paddock they have the experience of their prior teams, the observations of a great coach in knowing what to avoid and a burn to be number one!
Titans are a little like a stirring dragon, Don't underestimate their ability. They may not make the grand final this year...but who knows?
Let's not get too involved with the immediate game predictions but look forward and know we have the team to do it.
As for this weekend and the Warriors? They tire easily with sustained defense and pushing them back.
Personally I feel good about this outing. I know the boys will be prepared for the big Kiwi team and know what it is going to take to bring them to their knees. Persistence.