Mateo, Friend added to Warriors' pack
AAP
7:00am Wed 12th February, 2014
Established Warriors forwards Feleti Mateo and Nathan Friend are late inclusions in the team to face Wigan in Hamilton on Wednesday, while centre Dane Nielsen has been ruled out by injury.
Mateo, who is coming back from an offseason knee injury, was being targeted for the trial against Brisbane in Dunedin next week but has recovered well enough to face the English Super League champions.
It gives the Warriors starting pack a powerful look, with Friend packing down between props Jacob Lillyman and Sam Rapira, who is captain for the day.
Mateo will start in the second row alongside Ben Matulino.
Nielsen's omission with a minor hip injury leaves the Warriors backline lacking experience as most of the backs are involved this week in preparation for the NRL Nines in Auckland.
Former Cronulla half Chad Townsend will make his club debut at standoff while veteran centre Jerome Ropati will play at fullback.
WARRIORS: Jerome Ropati, Malo Solomona, Adam Tuimavave-Gerrard, Agnatius Paasi, Jarrod Wilson, Chad Townsend, Steve Waetford, Jacob Lillyman, Nathan Friend, Sam Rapira (capt), Ben Matulino, Feleti Mateo, John Palavi. Interchange: Sam Lisone, Albert Vete, Jordan Baldwinson, Nathan Peteru, Paulos Latu, Jarrod Tua, Josh Tamasu-Russell, Mason Tonks, David Bhana, Patrick Sipley, Siliva Havili, Tevita Latu, Jono Carl, Michael Sio, Mason Lino
WIGAN: Matt Bowen, Joe Burgess, Darrell Goulding, Dan Sarginson, Josh Charnley, Sam Powell, Matt Smith, Scott Taylor, Michael McIlorum, Gil Dudson, Jack Hughes, Liam Farrell, Tony Clubb. Interchange: Dom Manfredi, Anthony Gelling, George Williams, Greg Burke, Eddie Pettybourne, Logan Tomkins, Dom Crosby, John Bateman, Ben Flower, Ryan Hampshire
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Warriors V Wigan Live on Fox 1 Tonight
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I spoke with Friendy this morning & he said expect a better showing in this match after the boys loss to the Titans Elliott has told them to put in as there are many spots up for grabs..
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Junior
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Good to hear.
Wigan will thrash the NZW in this trial. The back Line of the Warriors includes Amateur club players no one has ever heard of.
The Forward pack will get a good going over too with the line speed of the Wigan team looking fairly sharp for this time of year.
Wigan by plenty.
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Wigan were very average against Huddersfield in the opening round of the Super League comp but i think they should be to good for the Warriors & they will need to be if they want to get within 20 of the Roosters in the World Club Challenge...
Woohoo there's a game of Footy to watch
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Halftime & the Warriors have come back from 12-0 deficit to lead 22-16 with Friendy having a blinder scoring a try & setting one up,, Wigan need to lift massively or they will get toweled by a Warriors B grade back line
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The 5th Burgess boy has scored his 3rd try early in the 2nd half for Wigan to lead 24-22
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Sams little bro scored 4 tries for Wigan to run out winners 46-22 but the 2nd half was a B grade team for NZ
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Junior
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Was a good young Wigan side in that second half, the young warriors were terrible..
And Joe Burgess is no brother to Sam, Luke, Tom n George :P
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Wow this was on Fox Sports?
Good to see Wigan win but it was against an inexperienced Warriors side?PUT EM TO THE SWORD! SHOW SOME STEEL!
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Curious to see if anyone was reading this thread
Originally Posted by Nick
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Junior
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It was an inexperienced warriors side in the second half for sure.. The warriors had a period of good play in the first half where they scored all their points, they still had players like Mateo, matilino, friendy, Lillian, etc, they were inexperienced backs with Chad Townsend steering the ship..
The wigan 2nd half team were equally as inexperienced, but twice as good as the young warriors. Although Imo it was more defensive lapses that allowed wigan to pile the points.. Nevertheless I am happy to see footy back
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C'mon Pete, if your name is on it then we all read it Originally Posted by TITAN PETE
Curious to see if anyone was reading this thread
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