Warriors v Dragons
Kick-off: 8pm Friday 19 April
WIN Stadium, Wollongong
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
The Warriors travel across the ditch to Wollongong this weekend, taking on the resurgent St George-Illawarra Dragons outfit with both sides being in a similar position on the table. They're looking to back up last Saturday's epic performance that resulted in a 22-all draw against the Sea Eagles, but while questions could be asked about certain parts of the performance, it's undeniable they stayed in the fight and appeared to be the better of the two sides when it came to the closing minutes of the game. The Warriors raised their intensity tenfold, earned multiple opportunities at a shot to win and most importantly shut down any serious chance the Sea Eagles of winning the game after scoring eight points in one minute and forcing the game to overtime.
It appears the worst kept secret in the NRL is finally out in the open with Dragons star player Zac Lomax officially off to Parramatta on a three year contract, beginning in 2025. But the men in the red V will be more than happy to get all this drama behind them and get their 2024 campaign back on track and follow up last weekend's victory with another win over The Warriors as Lomax ironically marks his 100th NRL appearance.
Zac Lomax of the Dragons scores a try. Photo: Matt King/Getty
Here's a look at the teams:
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Rocco Berry 4. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Te Maire Martin 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Jackson Ford 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Tohu Harris
Interchange: 14. Tom Ale 15. Jacob Laban 16. Ali Leiataua 17. Adam Pompey
Dragons: 1. Tyrell Sloan 2. Christian Tuipuloti 3. Mosese Suli 4. Zac Lomax 5. Mikaele Ravalawa 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Ben Hunt 8. Francis Molo 9. Jacob Liddle 10. Hame Sele 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jayde Su'a 13. Tom Eisenhuth
Interchange: 14. Blake Lawrie 15. Jack De Belin 16. Ben Murdoch-Masila 17. Michael Molo
Warriors selections
Mitch Barnett is tackled. Penrith Panthers v New Zealand Warriors. NRL Rugby League Finals, BlueBet Stadium, Penrith, NSW, Australia, Saturday 9th September 2023. Copyright Photo: David Neilson / www.photosport.nz Photo: David Neilson
Very much the same line up for the Warriors as last week besides a couple of changes: Chanel Harris-Tavita forced an adjustment on Thursday by withdrawing due to a leg injury he sustained during training, Ali Leiataua being added to the squad in his place on an inexperienced looking interchange bench. The second new face on the bench is Adam Pompey, who has replaced the injured Jazz Tevaga (hamstring). Mitch Barnett brings up game 150 in his NRL career.
Dragons selections
Fa'amanu Brown. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport
With Jesse Marschke withdrawing 24 hours before kick-off, Michael Molo has been promoted to the bench. When the team was reduced to 19, Kiwis hooker Fa'amanu Brown, a recent recruit signing on this week, and Mat Feagai remained in the extended squad. Christian Tuipulotu enters the outside backs on the wing, while star playmaker Lomax shifts to the centres as Jack Bird (head knock) is side-lined.
2023 results
Warriors 18 - 6 Dragons
Warriors 48 - 18 Dragons
The Warriors had St George's number in the 2023 season with two wins, the latter being one of their most complete performances in modern history when they piled 48 against the Dragons in Wollongong. In the past The Warriors have traditionally struggled heading on the road against the Dragons, at one of the NRL's more established Sydney suburban grounds. In saying that, The Dragons are looking to make it two wins in a row at home after beating the in-form Sea Eagles a couple weeks back.
Prediction
It'll be another duel of veteran halfbacks this week. Ben Hunt has a whopping 318 NRL appearances under his belt, while Shaun Johnson was in absolute vintage form last week when he scored a classic individual try which featured dummy passes and side steps galore. On paper there isn't much separating the teams who only sit one point apart on the NRL ladder but in truth this game is really The Warriors to lose. It will go a long way to proving if The Warriors are the real deal for 2024 if they can come back with a victory and the two points.
The Warriors need put the noise of the loud and proud Dragons fans in Wollongong behind them, not try anything too fancy by manning up on defence and weathering the storm of attack headed their way from the likes of Lomax, they will end up wearing St George out. Waiting for opportunities off the back of mistakes is the name of the game here, he Warriors just want to make sure they're on the right side of it.
