Dominic Brock | rugbyleaguelive.com | 08/08/08 | 0
New Zealand Warriors v Brisbane Broncos
Saturday 9th August, 7.30pm (NZ TIME)
Mt Smart Stadium
Referee: Sean Hampstead
HEAD TO HEAD
Played 22; Broncos 14 wins, Warriors 8 wins.
FORM GUIDE
Warriors: LWLWWLLWBLLWLLLWBWWWL
Broncos: WWWLWLWWLLBWLLWDBLWWW
Both these teams have hit hiccups after running into good form in the lead up to the business end of the season.
The Warriors looked finals bound after rolling past their opponents with four straight wins, only to come up short against the Rabbitohs last week.
That loss puts the Kiwis in 12th place rather than 7th, and they still face a battle to reach the finals with their next four matches coming against top-eight teams.
The Broncos looked great against Canberra last week to notch their third straight win, but have now lost Justin Hodges to suspension for the second time this year.
Sam Thaiday has also been stood down this week after turning up late to a forwards training session.
Both are key men for Brisbane and could put the brakes on the Broncos’ slick form.
For the Warriors, fullback Wade McKinnon is set to make an early comeback from injury after having been ruled out for the season.
And adding spice to an always physical encounter, Test centre Brent Tate will take on his old team for the first time.
Brisbane do enjoy a relatively smooth run home to the finals, and a win here could propel them into top-four contention, while the Warriors’ finals hopes are really on the line.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the Broncos still fire without bad boys Hodges and Thaiday?
KEY MATCH UP
Wade McKinnon v Karmichael Hunt
McKinnon hasn’t set foot on a playing ground this season after suffering a knee injury in the off-season, but could be a real boost for the Warriors if he can regain his form of old.
He won’t be expected to do too much in his first game back after such a long layoff, but the Broncos kick-chasers are certain to test out the wily fullback in the tackle.
Hunt was named in the Australian World Cup squad last week but has a fierce battle on his hands if he is to regain his Test spot.
Billy Slater and Brett Stewart appear to have bumped the ever-consistent Hunt down the pecking order, but a string of strong performances in the crunch part of the season could put Hunt back in selectors’ minds.
COACHES CORNER
The Warriors’ outside backs like to act as extra forwards and take on their share of providing go-forward.
Against the Bunnies last week, Lance Hohaia, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Tate, Sonny Fai and Jerome Ropati all ran the ball forward for 135 metres or more.
That workload frees up the forwards to take more of an impact role, and the likes of Ruben Wiki and Steve Price will be out to bruise the Broncos’ big men through the middle.
With strike weapons Hodges and Thaiday out, the visitors will look to the halves to provide most of the spark – and Peter Wallace and Darren Lockyer could do worse than bombard Vatuvei with kicks.
The pair do give Brisbane an advantage in the kicking department, and it could prove crucial here.
PUNTERS GUIDE
Head-to-head: Warriors $2.35 – Broncos $1.55
Brisbane look the goods despite being without two of their best.
The Warriors are dangerous – particularly at home – but the same no-nonsense attitude that cost Thaiday his place in the team should also see Wayne Bennett’s Broncos put in a professional performance here.
We’d take the visitors by 1-12.
CASUALTY WARD
Warriors: Aidan Kirk – hamstring (indefinite).
Broncos: Steve Michaels – knee (season), Nick Emmett – ankle (season), Tonie Carroll – hamstring (indefinite).
BAD BOYS
Warriors: -
Broncos: Justin Hodges (Round 24), Sam Thaiday – club discipline reasons (Round 23)
TEAM LISTS
Warriors: Wade McKinnon, Malo Solomona, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Lance Hohaia, Ben Matulino, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira
Broncos: Karmichael Hunt, Denan Kemp, Darius Boyd, Joel Moon, Kaine Manihera, Darren Lockyer (capt), Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Joel Clinton, Corey Parker, TBA, David Stagg. Interchange: Ashton Sims, Greg Eastwood, Nick Kenny, David Taylor, Joel Moon (one to be omitted)
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