KEY POINTS:
All teams in the NRL complain about the wrestling tactics used against them. But they all do it.
The Warriors were out-wrestled by the Sharks in Cronulla last weekend, which robbed their momentum and cost them the game, and it's to be hoped they learned a lesson because Manly will try the same tomorrow.
The Warriors worked on their wrestle this week, training both to control the play better when they do not have possession and learning ways to combat that when they do have the ball. Manly have used a Brazilian jiu-jitsu expert.
The Sea Eagles have the second-best defensive record in the NRL, conceding just 13 points a game. The Warriors are second-worst, dropping an average 30. So it's clear where improvement is needed.
The Warriors have frequently scored enough points to win _ as against Souths a fortnight ago, when they notched up 28, which should be enough to win most games. But then they let in 35.
The shift of Nathan Fien to halfback is undoubtedly aimed at beefing up defence around the ruck and scrum. Fien is a tougher customer than Grant Rovelli.
Coach Ivan Cleary passed the switch off as "just a change, we were due for a change, maybe he can spark us into a bit better performance".
Cleary took some consolation from an improvement in defence in the loss to the Sharks last weekend. "We defended really well, so well we didn't really build any pressure [on attack]."
He hoped the return of Michael Witt would give more direction in attack and the finishing of Manu Vatuvei would offer points, though both might need game-time after extended injury layoff, Cleary said.
He expected better combinations at work his weekend. But the foundation had to be built on defence.
"We'll look to do that again, there's plenty of other things we can sharpen up on [in attack]."
Witt declared himself 100 per cent fit after five weeks out with a hip-flexor injury from tearing muscle from the bone when he misfired a kick in the wet against Canberra.
"I hurt it a bit early in the game then when I slipped and missed the ball I finished myself off," he said.
"It wasn't too painful, more embarrassing than anything ... I didn't realise it was so bad."
He played 80 minutes for the Vulcans last weekend and felt good, nailing two kicks from three, so he will resume the goal-kicking duties tomorrow.
Witt aims to play with confidence and bring enthusiasm to the team. He remembers the 52-6 loss to the Sea Eagles at Manly early this season.
"Personally I played pretty ordinary, they're not fond memories and that's something we'd like to turn around [tomorrow]."
The squad remembered last year too, he said, when they were written off at the halfway stage as they are now, before finishing fourth.
"If we start putting things together we can turn things pretty quickly."
Young second rower Ben Matulino gets his second NRL game tomorrow and admits he'll be slowing himself down after running around "trying to do everything" in his first outing.
"I was very nervous, especially going against Paul Gallen ... Ivan just told me to stick to my natural game, what I've been doing in the under-20s."
Fullback Wade McKinnon is walking freely on the knee he injured pre-season but remains a month away from high-level contact work. "Once he starts that we'll know where he's at," Cleary said in terms of a return this season.
Ruben Wiki plays his 299th game tomorrow. He continues to look at furthering his career in Super League after this season and has some offers to consider, he said, including one with former Kiwis coach Brian McClennan at Leeds.
WARRIORS
MT SMART, TOMORROW 2PM
Lance Hohaia
Aidan Kirk
Brent Tate
Jerome Ropati
Manu Vatuvei
Michael Witt
Nathan Fien
Ruben Wiki
Ian Henderson
Steve Price (c)
Simon Mannering
Logan Swann
Micheal Luck
SEA EAGLES
Brett Stewart
M. Robertson
Steve Bell
Steve Matai
David Williams
Jamie Lyon
Matt Orford (capt)
Brent Kite
Matt Ballin
Josh Perry
Ant Watmough
Glenn Stewart
Luke Williamson
INTERCHANGE
Warriors (from): Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino, Grant Rovelli.
Sea Eagles (from): Heath L'Estrange, Glenn Hall, Mark Bryant, Steve Menzies, Vic Mauro, Adam Cuthbertson.
Referee: Tony De Las Heras
