Round 13: New Zealand Warriors vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

[DIEHARD]

New Zealand Warriors vs South Sydney Rabbitohs

8:00pm (Local Time) Friday 6 June 2008 - Mt Smart Stadium

Referee:

Teams:

1. Patrick Ah Van
2. Michael Crockett
3. Aidan Kirk
4. Jerome Ropati
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Nathan Fien
7. Grant Rovelli
8. Ruben Wiki (vc)
9. Ian Henderson
10. Sam Rapira
11. Simon Mannering
12. Epalahame Lauaki
13. Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange:

14. Lance Hohaia
15. Evarn Tuimavave
16. Russell Packer
17. Sonny Fai

1. Luke Capewell
2. Nathan Merritt
3. Jamie Simpson
4. Fetuli Talanoa
5. John Tamanika
6. John Sutton
7. Chris Sandow
8. Scott Geddes
9. Issac Luke
10. Roy Asotasi (c)
11. Luke Stuart
12. David Fa'alogo
13. Ben Lowe

Interchange:

14. George Ndaira
15. Shannan McPherson
16. David Kidwell
17. Manase Manuokafoa
18. Michael Greenfield (one to be omitted)

[DIEHARD]

Chris Sandow has been selected at half back for the Rabbitohs. NRL Rabbitohs!

I highly rate him but that is a whole world of pressure to put on anyone, let alone such a young bloke.

Best of luck Chris! Try and not think too much about it and have some fun.

[Meh]

VODAFONE WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland

8.00pm, Friday, June 6
VODAFONE WARRIORS from www.warriors.co.nz

1
PATRICK AH VAN
2
MICHAEL CROCKETT
3
AIDAN KIRK
4
JEROME ROPATI
5
MANU VATUVEI
6
NATHAN FIEN
7
GRANT ROVELLI
8
RUBEN WIKI (vc)
9
IAN HENDERSON
10
SAM RAPIRA
11
SIMON MANNERING
12
EPALAHAME LAUAKI
13
MICHEAL LUCK (c)


Interchange:
14
LANCE HOHAIA
15
EVARN TUIMAVAVE
16
RUSSELL PACKER
17
SONNY FAI

All things considered and barring a miracle - Goodbye Bunnies

[Paul]

They said on NRL teams they have made ELEVEN changes

[DIEHARD]

I am looking forward to this game....

[Paul]

record win for the warriors?

[DIEHARD]

It's amazing the difference of the Warriors at home compared to away.

The Bunnies would wish it was a home game. Sure they can't win home or away but the Warriors struggle away.

Still looking forward to the match, they need to promote Nat Barnes from Norths!!!!

[TITAN PETE]

Still looking forward to the match, they need to promote Nat Barnes from Norths!!!!

Norths are still undefeated they should promote the entire side for a week as they couldn't do any worst but i'm happy to see Sandow get a start but what a time to debut against the Monsters

Good luck Bunnys

[DIEHARD]

Norths are still undefeated they should promote the entire side for a week as they couldn't do any worst

Yea good point! But wouldn't Bears fans be dirty.

They dropped Withers, Vagana and Hegarty, can you imagine how much those players would be worth?

[DIEHARD]

Warriors V Rabbitohs Preview

Mt Smart Stadium Friday 8pm (NZ Time)

WOW? the Warriors can win away from home ? who?d have thought?

Well done to Ivan Cleary?s men for breaking the hoodoo and beating the Knights to move into 13th position, remarkably just a win away from the top eight.

It was a gutsy win but the reality is it will count for nought if they can?t back it up and continue South Sydney?s season of woe this Friday night.

Having dominated Souths since 1999, and returning to their home turf, there will be no excuses for a loss in this game.

Souths are dead last and still don?t look like a side capable of shaking the wooden spoon and the reality is if the Warriors don?t take advantage of two points against the Bunnies like just about every other side has, then they?ll be well behind the eight ball in trying to catch up.

There are two forced changes to their side this week, with Steve Price and Brent Tate on Origin duty. Aiden Kirk moves from wing into the centres for Tate, but big Manu Vatuvei returns from injury on the wing.

Ruben Wiki returns to the side for Price, while Epalahame Lauaki has been named to start with Sonny Fai returning to the bench. Ryan Shortland makes way for the return of Lance Hohaia on the bench.

For Souths, season 2008 is already over in a finals sense and now becomes about pride and blooding youth for the future.

Young Luke Capewell has kept his spot at fullback while Jamie Simpson and Chris Sandow have been named to make their NRL debuts.

Nigel Vagana is gone from the side that lost to the Dragons last start with Simpson named at centre. Young winger John Tamanika returns to the side at Shannon Hegarty?s expense.

Dean Widders is gone, bringing John Sutton from lock to five-eighth, while Sandow takes the number seven jersey from George Ndaira who moves to the bench.

Scott Geddes comes into the side at prop, pushing Luke Stuart to the back row and David Kidwell to the bench, while Ben Lowe takes the vacant lock position. Beau Falloon is also gone.

Watch out Warriors: Chris Sandow is a dynamo and potential star in the making. While his size might pose a problem (at 173cm and 76 kilograms he isn?t the biggest guy you?ll ever come across), he has the attacking flair of Matt Bowen and has been dominating the Toyota Cup under-20s competition. A point-scoring whiz originally from Queensland, Sandow could be just what the Bunnies need to fix their attacking woes. The youngster possesses great footwork and acceleration and a clever passing and kicking game ? basically he has the complete attacking package. But he?ll have to aim up in defence to become a permanent fixture in the NRL.

Watch out Rabbitohs: The Warriors will go for gold from dummy-half when they get close to the line. Having scored four tries from dummy-half this year they are confident in grabbing easy points and the fact that Souths have conceded three tries from dummy-half suggests they may have some success. Ian Henderson especially has the power to push his way through a defence that hasn?t aimed up well on the goal line.

Where it will be won: Discipline. The only thing that can break the Warriors in this clash is poor discipline. They are a stronger side but if they lack the discipline to stick to their game plan and get the job done, or if they come in with any complacency, then a South Sydney side with nothing to lose could click and get over the top of them. Currently the Warriors are the fifth worst penalised team in the NRL while Souths are the most disciplined in this category so a lopsided penalty count could also help the Bunnies towards an upset.

The History: Played 17; Warriors 14, Rabbitohs 3. The Warriors have won the past 12 matches against South Sydney, with the Bunnies? last win coming in 1999. Of the eight games at Mt Smart Stadium the Warriors have won six.

Conclusion: There is a theory that the more games you lose the closer you get to a win. That may be the case but opting for South Sydney is still pretty much tipping comp suicide. The look of their side this week is much better, especially in the halves, so an upset isn?t out of the question but the Warriors are always better at home and they are well aware they need to win this game to stay in finals contention, so they?ll be hungry. The best bet is to lean towards the Warriors making it 13 in a row.

Match officials: Referee ? Tony De Las Heras; Sideline Officials ? Jeff Younis & Michael Jones; Video ref ? Russell Smith.

Televised: Channel Nine ? Delayed 9.30pm; Fox Sports 2 ? Delayed 1.00pm Sat.

* Statistics: NRL Stats.

Source: http://www.NRL.com

[Meh]

Damn, no Vatuvei for this one. Was looking forward to seeing him carve up some rookie Bunnies.

Damn you Nathan Friend you beast, you!

[TITAN PETE]

Damn, no Vatuvei for this one. Was looking forward to seeing him carve up some rookie Bunnies.

Damn you Nathan Friend you beast, you!

You are lucky he left the other 12 players with a chance to play again this season

[qld power]

2mins try warriors crocket

[qld power]

12mins try and goal to ah van 10-0 warriors

[qld power]

crocket try 15mins warriors 14-0