Consider this an altenative stream of discussion to AmericanHistoryX's thread - ["New Zealand No Worries"](http://www.weststigersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=81&t=10046) It's no slight on his opinion, and infact I do agree with the majority of that threads sentiment, however in the spirit of good healthy discussion, I pose this avenue of thought.
I am concerned about this game a little - Granted many of you know me on here as a pretty rose tinted, one-eyed tigers fan - always looking for the positive - however, occasionally games give me the wobbles - and this is one of them.
This is an important game. Period. We **CANNOT** take it lightly.
No matter what happens, the boys need to keep going at the Warriors.
If we are up 34-0 at Halftime or down 34-0 at halftime, they need to keep going hard, fast line speed, in the warrior faces. We give them a sniff, and they will keep hitting.
Beau Ryan will need another performance like his last one again Vatuvei.
The Warriors have been crapola recently, but they have had games this year where everything just works -
This is the mob who toweled up a bunnies side 48-16 which had led our boys 27-0 at half time a couple of weeks previous, and who accounted for Melbourne early in the year in a grinding defensive game.
This is what we need to do:
* Up in the face of Johnson and Maloney. Johnson will crack under pressure - mark my words - much like soward did on Friday night. Maloney wont, but rush his kicks, and passing options, and just watch as it all starts to unravel. He doesn't have a natural broken play running game like Marshall does.
* First player in on Meteo - ATTACK THE BALL! I can't believe so many other teams do not do this! We got beaten 22-6 by a Parramatta outfit who got under our skin by hitting our boys will several one on one strips. IF we attack Meteo's arm carrying the ball with the first bloke in on EVERY tackle, it will force him to change up his game. The refs will ping him for a bad carry in tackles, because he does have a bad carry - plain and simple.
* Bombs - Its all the warriors will have after a while. After a few dodgy kicks from Maloney, look for Johnson and Lock to start bombing for the wingers. Granted we are weak when it come to bombs, however as long as we at least CHALLENGE for them, and then get numbers behind the ball we should get out ok - the warriors have just as much chance of spilling bombs as we do. If this means Utai gets dropped to 18th man, then so be it.
* Kick away from Locke -IMHO a much better broken play runner than he is given credit for. Kick to Vatuvei, and get the likes of Mitch Brown, Blake Ayshford, and Beau Ryan, bearing down on him at a million miles an hour. They mightn't be able to take him one on one, but you get Brown there first, and then Ayshrord, then Ryan and all of a sudden Vatuvei isn't going anywhere.
* Attack their fringes, but bring the ball back inside. Their lateral defense is pretty bad. Marshall should have a field day loking for line runners, and Liam Fulton should be ready to score a hat-trick.
* Farah should be watching the likes of Mautalino, and Packer around the ruck. towards the back end of each half, their will be gaps there - particularly Packer.
* Do it for 80 minutes. This is key.
DO all this, and I predict a healthy victory.
Come in expecting to win, and 2011 becomes another one of those years we say, "IF Only we didn't have injuries, refs against us, etc.."
Towel these pretenders up guys. But do it right. :sign:
I am concerned about this game a little - Granted many of you know me on here as a pretty rose tinted, one-eyed tigers fan - always looking for the positive - however, occasionally games give me the wobbles - and this is one of them.
This is an important game. Period. We **CANNOT** take it lightly.
No matter what happens, the boys need to keep going at the Warriors.
If we are up 34-0 at Halftime or down 34-0 at halftime, they need to keep going hard, fast line speed, in the warrior faces. We give them a sniff, and they will keep hitting.
Beau Ryan will need another performance like his last one again Vatuvei.
The Warriors have been crapola recently, but they have had games this year where everything just works -
This is the mob who toweled up a bunnies side 48-16 which had led our boys 27-0 at half time a couple of weeks previous, and who accounted for Melbourne early in the year in a grinding defensive game.
This is what we need to do:
* Up in the face of Johnson and Maloney. Johnson will crack under pressure - mark my words - much like soward did on Friday night. Maloney wont, but rush his kicks, and passing options, and just watch as it all starts to unravel. He doesn't have a natural broken play running game like Marshall does.
* First player in on Meteo - ATTACK THE BALL! I can't believe so many other teams do not do this! We got beaten 22-6 by a Parramatta outfit who got under our skin by hitting our boys will several one on one strips. IF we attack Meteo's arm carrying the ball with the first bloke in on EVERY tackle, it will force him to change up his game. The refs will ping him for a bad carry in tackles, because he does have a bad carry - plain and simple.
* Bombs - Its all the warriors will have after a while. After a few dodgy kicks from Maloney, look for Johnson and Lock to start bombing for the wingers. Granted we are weak when it come to bombs, however as long as we at least CHALLENGE for them, and then get numbers behind the ball we should get out ok - the warriors have just as much chance of spilling bombs as we do. If this means Utai gets dropped to 18th man, then so be it.
* Kick away from Locke -IMHO a much better broken play runner than he is given credit for. Kick to Vatuvei, and get the likes of Mitch Brown, Blake Ayshford, and Beau Ryan, bearing down on him at a million miles an hour. They mightn't be able to take him one on one, but you get Brown there first, and then Ayshrord, then Ryan and all of a sudden Vatuvei isn't going anywhere.
* Attack their fringes, but bring the ball back inside. Their lateral defense is pretty bad. Marshall should have a field day loking for line runners, and Liam Fulton should be ready to score a hat-trick.
* Farah should be watching the likes of Mautalino, and Packer around the ruck. towards the back end of each half, their will be gaps there - particularly Packer.
* Do it for 80 minutes. This is key.
DO all this, and I predict a healthy victory.
Come in expecting to win, and 2011 becomes another one of those years we say, "IF Only we didn't have injuries, refs against us, etc.."
Towel these pretenders up guys. But do it right. :sign:
