Gameday < 2021 Storm vs Warriors Gameday Chatter [Round 8, 2016]

[NZWarriors.com]

NRL 2016 - Rnd 8 - Storm vs Warriors Gameday Chatter
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Storm v Warriors: Schick Preview
Thu 21 Apr, 2016, 2:00pm
By Stephen Marson‌, Melbourne Correspondent , NRL.com

Schick Hydro Preview:
Melbourne Storm v New Zealand Warriors
AAMI Park
Monday, 7pm AEST, 9PM NZST

For the second time this season, the Storm and the Warriors will face off for competition points, this time as they round out the ANZAC Day triple header at AAMI Park on Monday night.

A field goal to Cooper Cronk with three minutes to play followed by a try to Marika Koroibete was enough for the Storm to come away with a hard fought 21-14 win against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium in Round 3.

Since then, both sides have had injury problems, with the Warriors losing fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck for the season following a knee injury he picked up against the Bulldogs last weekend.

Manu Vatuvei returns from a hamstring injury and replaces Tuivasa-Sheck in the 17 for Monday's game, with Tuimoala Lolohea shifting to fullback.

The Storm lost Will Chambers two weeks ago and are yet to find consistency on the field in the outside backs position with yet another change this weekend, as Young Tonumaipea replaces Suliasi Vunivalu in the centres for the ANZAC Day clash.

This Monday marks the seventh installment of the historic clash between the Storm and the Warriors, with the Storm winning three times, the Warriors twice, and a 14-all draw in the first edition back in 2009.

Watch out Storm: For a side with five wins from their opening seven games, the Storm know there's still plenty of improvement needed in their attack. Only three teams have scored fewer points than the Storm all season, and even though their defense is winning them games, they'll be coming up against one of the best offensive teams in the competition on Monday. The Warriors have scored 30 tries this season compared to the Storm's 22, and the Kiwis have scored 20+ points in a game four times, with Melbourne achieving the milestone only twice. If this game turns into a high scoring affair, it looks as though it could be the Warriors who will benefit.

Watch out Warriors: After Billy Slater was sidelined for the remainder of the season following his shoulder injury in Round 1, Storm young gun Cameron Munster has stepped up in Slater's absence, and become one of the Storm's most crucial players. The 21-year-old fullback is fifth in total running meters so far this season, and without Tuivasa-Sheck as the Warriors' first choice fullback, Munster could be in for another huge offensive game.

Key match-up: Marika Koroibete v Manu Vatuvei. As the Kiwi returns to the Warriors line-up after a two-week absence through injury, this match-up has the potential to be a deciding factor in the contest. Vatuvei missed the Round 3 clash with the Storm and Koroibete made the Warriors pay, running for a team-high 163 meters and scoring the sealing try. Vatuvei may have size on his side in this match-up but Koroibete has him covered for speed, so look for these two to try and use their strengths to propel their team to victory.

The history: Played 37; Storm 19, Warriors 16, Drawn 2. There isn't too much between these sides whenever they play according to their history, with the Storm just edging out the Warriors for bragging rights. The past six contests have been split evenly, with the Storm winning the reverse fixture this season in Round 3 by seven points.

What are the odds: This isn't as one sided a betting game as you'd expect with only slightly more dollars invested on the Storm, who are favourites. Sportsbet punters who are keen on the Warriors are taking them with the start, as well as 1-12 in margin betting. Latest odds at sportsbet https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/rugby-league/nrl?QuickLinks

Match Officials: Referee: Matt Cecchin. Assistant Referee: Gavin Reynolds. Touch Judges: Brett Suttor and Dave Munro. Review Officials: Ashley Klein, Ben Galea. Senior RO: Luke Patten

Televised: Fox Sports – Live coverage from 6.30pm (AEST) 8:30pm (NZST)

How we see it: Including the draw in 2009, three of the six ANZAC Day clashes have been decided by six points or less. The Storm were able to edge New Zealand with a seven-point win earlier on this season, so expect for another close contest this time around. The Warriors should put up a strong fight, but the loss of Tuivasa-Sheck may just be too much to overcome against a solid Melbourne outfit. Storm by 8.


Vodafone Warriors V Melbourne Storm
Aami Park, Melbourne
7.00pm (AEST) 9:00pm (NZST), Monday, April 25

Vodafone Warriors
1 Tuimoala Lolohea
2 David Fusitua
3 Blake Ayshford
4 Solomone Kata
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Thomas Leuluai
7 Shaun Johnson
8 Sam Lisone
9 Issac Luke
10 Ben Matulino
11 Bodene Thompson
12 Ryan Hoffman(c)
13 Simon Mannering

14 Jonathan Wright
15 Jacob Lillyman
16 Charlie Gubb
17 Ligi Sao

Melbourne Storm
1. Cameron Munster
2. Young Tonumaipea
3. Richard Kennar
4. Ben Hampton
5. Marika Koroibete
6. Blake Green
7. Cooper Cronk
8. Jesse Bromwich
9. Cameron Smith (c)
10. Jordan McLean
11. Kevin Proctor
12. Tohu Harris Harris
13. Dale Finucane

14. Kenneath Bromwich
15. Tim Glasby
16. Felise Kaufusi
17. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

 

[STEEDEN]

I wonder which Warriors team will turn up today?

I really hope its the better one of the two.

The sponsors products are in the fridge and ready for consumption.

Go the Warriors!

 

[bruce]

The Warriors should put up a strong fight, but the loss of Tuivasa-Sheck may just be too much to overcome against a solid Melbourne outfit. Storm by 8.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is brilliant and a big loss, but he made little difference against the Dogs because he wasn't there. Our forwards tend to turn up against the Storm and we will have a home crowd in Melbourne. Should I feel so confident?

 

[Pete]

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is brilliant and a big loss, but he made little difference against the Dogs because he wasn't there. Our forwards tend to turn up against the Storm and we will have a home crowd in Melbourne. Should do I feel so confident?

You on the beers early? I like the enthusiasm though. Huge game for us.

 

[DavidMcKay1974]

Lest we forget.

Come on Warriors do us proud. Take the 2 points and run.

Tui is going to have a fantastic game, he's in tremendous form, so is Johnson, he needs this to make the kiwis.

Been waiting all weekend for this match.

 

[wallacenz]

Lest we forget.

Come on Warriors do us proud. Take the 2 points and run.

Tui is going to have a fantastic game, he's in tremendous form, so is Johnson, he needs this to make the kiwis.

Been waiting all weekend for this match.

Hope so, he had a poor game against Manly after he was talked up following the Roosters game

 

[jonno]

I'm not expecting a big game from Lolohea. He's still too green to put in every week, and everyone is looking at him.

Shaun Johnson and Manu should step up tonight tho..

 

[Diesel]

I'm expecting nothing less than a win. Storm looked very beatable last week

 

[Freddie Futler]

I'm not expecting a big game from Lolohea. He's still too green to put in every week, and everyone is looking at him.

Shaun Johnson and Manu should step up tonight tho..

Morena jonno
Just wondering if you have factored in the time zone difference and whether you will be putting that in with your weather report?

 

[janfin]

Remembering all the times that the boys should have won by 6 Today's the day

 

[6 Again]

Hoping the forwards cancel each other out and our superior back line is the difference.

 

[Afakasi247]

So has anyone uncovered why the hell Robbo has been hanging around the first grade squad?

 

[diehard]

Robbo? Maybe he's there in case TL misses a tackle?

 

[Miket12]

So has anyone uncovered why the hell Robbo has been hanging around the first grade squad?

Not to sure why Robbo would be there but I'd heard that Lane was taken over, not so much because he's expected to play today, but because the NSWarriors weren't playing this weekend, he was taken over so he could experience time with the FG squad when they're away from home. I suspect we'll be seeing Lane of the bench within the next few weeks.

 

[KiwiZ]

Got a feeling of a Johnson last minute try to win :0

 

[mrblonde]

I'm expecting nothing less than a win. Storm looked very beatable last week

I thought a classic sign of how average (as in "below Storm average", not "NRL average") they looked was Smith trying to go for the FG himself rather than setting up Cronk which was always going to be the play. Smith doing something off the cuff like that is just not how Mr C Bellamy likes things done!

 

[Miket12]

Rugby League: Greater patience key for Warriors
5:00 AM Monday Apr 25, 2016

Photo / Getty Images

The Warriors hope they have absorbed lessons from their recent heart-breaking home defeat to the Melbourne Storm and are looking to display greater patience in tonight's Anzac Day NRL rematch at AAMI Park.

After competing well for the majority of their round three 21-14 defeat at Mt Smart Stadium, the Warriors saw the result slip through their fingers late in the game when the Storm showed better composure.

With the scores locked at 14-14 inside the last 10 minutes, a Warriors error near halfway allowed the visitors to swiftly work into position for halfback Cooper Cronk to slot a field goal before a Marika Koroibete try sealed the result in the 79th minute.

Melbourne, who are ranked sixth on the NRL ladder with a five and two win-loss record, also found themselves in another grinding contest in last week's 19-18 golden point win over Wests Tigers. Once more, coach Craig Bellamy's side kept mistakes to a minimum and completed 14 of 16 second-half sets before Cronk again provided the match-winning one-pointer at Leichhardt Oval in Sydney.

Warriors coach Andrew McFadden emphasised the importance of his side remaining focused and accurate for 80 minutes against an outfit that will bide their time and grow in confidence as the match progresses.

And while they produced a determined effort to upset the Bulldogs 24-20 in Wellington last round, the Warriors realise they need to build on that display if they are to improve both their patchy three and four record and climb up from 11th place on the competition standings.

"They back their defence, Melbourne, and they want to keep turning you around and we need to be prepared to do that because you can't avoid it," McFadden said.

"So we've got to play that patient style of football. Last time, it was very close and Melbourne completed at about 90 per cent so you've got to go the distance with them.

"We were pretty patient [against the Bulldogs]. We waited for our opportunities and when we got them, we utilised the football, so it's going to be no different this weekend.

"These games are traditionally a real battle so we've got to be patient again."

The loss of fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to a season-ending ACL injury is huge blow to the Warriors' season but McFadden was relieved the side can call on the hard-running and experience of veteran winger Manu Vatuvei, in his return after two games out with a hamstring injury.

"It's big getting any player back, but Manu, he brings a lot to our side," he said. "Losing Roger and that go-forward he gives the team, it's important it's made up somewhere, and Manu gives us that."

The individual contest between Warriors hooker Issac Luke and Storm skipper Cameron Smith will also be pivotal to both side's hopes.

After a slow start to the season, McFadden has been pleased with his No9's encouraging form over the past month and expects him to provide headaches for the home side's defence as his combinations with the Warriors forwards continue to develop.

"He's getting used to playing with the team, so you're starting to see some combinations build.

"And, as I said all along, that would take time, because it's more instinct than it is structured," McFadden said of Luke.

"I just want to continue to see him be consistent at running when he gets opportunities."

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/article.cfm?c_id=80&objectid=11628055

 

[mt.wellington]

Some huge team changes guys.

According to the rugby loving NZ Herald both teams have never seen before positional changes that is sure to revolutionize the game as we know it.

I guess that's one way of getting Manu Vatuvei to the forwards but not sure about hooker...

​

 

[Bluecat again]

I guess we'll find out tonight if last weeks game was the start of something special or if it was just a Warriors special. I've put my $ on the Warriors but I reckon anything is possible tonight

 

[Miket12]

Some huge team changes guys.

According to the rugby loving NZ Herald both teams have never seen before positional changes that is sure to revolutionize the game as we know it.

I guess that's one way of getting Manu Vatuvei to the forwards but not sure about hooker...

View attachment 18411​

Strike - how versatile is Tui - his fourth position this year!!!!