Rugby League: Warriors expect hot reception

By PETER JESSUP

Only hype can beat the Warriors at Brookvale Oval tonight.

The Sea Eagles will be celebrating their return to Brookie as a stand-alone team after the trials of their sour marriage to arch-rivals North Sydney, so a large crowd is expected to create a cauldron-like atmosphere for the game.

Coach Peter Sharp believes the return to the home stadium will spark his side this year.

"The walls ooze history and success," he said.

For the Warriors it's a matter of proving they can be successful away from home and that they can at last win the games they are supposed to win. On paper, it's a no-contest. They have more talent, size and experience.

They will be missing international backrowers Ali Lauiti'iti and Awen Guttenbeil, but they still have Kiwis Monty Betham and Logan Swann.

The Eagles will feel the loss of tough-nuts Nathan Long and Mark Shipway much more.

The Eagles' loss of Brendon Reeves (ankle) shunts Sam Murphy, 22 and on debut last weekend, to fullback.

He is sure to be peppered by Stacey Jones' bombs.

Wing John Hopoate and captain Steve Menzies are the main dangers. Menzies has an incredible 133 tries from 220 games and may cause the Warriors problems off the ruck.

Hopoate has been told to button his lip after conducting a non-stop sledging match with the Cowboys' threequarters last weekend. If he concentrates on his game he will challenge the Warriors' defensive line.

The Manly five-eighth Ben Walker was in doubt yesterday with a knee injury, but will be given time to prove his fitness. Luke Dorn is an able replacement, but the Warriors will fancy their chances of pushing there to disrupt the Eagles' backline and ensure "Hoppa" doesn't get into top gear.

"Talent is measured in effort and attitude," coach Daniel Anderson said in response to the suggestion this is a should-win game for the Warriors.

"If we match them in the statistics, yes, we should come away with the points. But they're not going to give them to us."

Anderson is wary of the early onslaught, which he expects will be fired by emotion after Manly stalwart Ken Arthurson leads a parade of former Manly greats and then the team onto the field.

"That's why we'll play it simple."

The team accepted it was expected to win games now, he said.

"We're also confident enough to think we'll win and to play like that."

Despite using three shooters last weekend, he says goal kicking is not an issue preying on the team's minds.

"We had a late start to the season after the Kiwi tour. Teamwork and individual conditioning has been the focus up to now and goal-kicking was the trade-off.

"You can't flog people all day then expect them to put in extra time practising goal kicks, but I'm confident that once we start working on it the averages will come up."

Of the individual and team work he was very pleased. "We've matured as a team. Players realise more what their role, and they realise how they can play their role to help others."

Guttenbeil had stepped in to play the looser, attacking role of Lauiti'iti, and now he was out for three weeks, Swann, who had moderated his game and played tight, would take that role.

"Lance [Hohaia] has to get his hands on the ball more and so does P. J [Marsh]. Motu [Tony] has to do more. But the squad has good balance."

Iafeta Palea'aesina was another example of a player who had worked out his role.

He was injected just before halftime against the Bulldogs with instructions to make big carries that would damage the enemy confidence.

"There is depth. The players who haven't had a run are very hungry," Anderson said.

"They're frustrated because they've done the work and they can't unload their anxiety on an opponent and force their way into the team."

Those players were looking forward to the start of the Bartercard Cup, former All Black Mark Robinson included.

Robinson said Robinson was itching for action, but given his specialist ability at halfback, or more likely hooker, he has to get past Marsh, which might happen only through injury.

Teams:


Sea Eagles: Sam Murphy, Scott Donald, Kevin McGuinness, Ben MacDougall, John Hopoate, Ben Walker, Jason Ferris, Jason King, Chad Randall, Grant Wooden, Tony Jensen, Anthony Whatmough, Steve Menzies (c); interchange Danny Lima, Aaron Cannings, Luke Dorn, Solomon Haumono, Luke Williamson (one to be omitted).


Warriors: Motu Tony, Henry Fa'afili, John Carlaw, Clinton Toopi, Francis Meli, Lance Hohaia, Stacey Jones, Jerry Seuseu, P. J. Marsh, Mark Tookey, Logan Swann, Wairangi Koopu, Monty Betham (c); interchange Justin Murphy, Evarn Tuimavave, Vinnie Anderson, Iafeta Palea'aesina, Sione Faumuina (one to be omitted).


* Live on Sky One at 8.30pm tomorrow. Delayed on Prime at 9.30pm.