NRL: Warriors mindful of previous lessons

Lance Hohaia in action against the Titans in round 21. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors will be on guard against clocking off when they kick off the National Rugby League playoffs against bogey opposition in Queensland tomorrow night.

The Warriors are up against Gold Coast, to whom they have lost five times in a row since doing the double over them in the Titans' debut season in 2007.

In both their round-robin meetings this year, the Warriors opened out handy 12-point margins only to go down by six and eight points respectively.

Coach Ivan Cleary said the way those contests panned out summed up the strength of the Titans.

"We got out to good leads in both games and they ran us down," he said.

"They're a very experienced team and they know how to win. They know how to play for 80 minutes and on both days we probably didn't."

However, the Warriors' form over the second half of the season gave them confidence they could cause an upset at Robina.

A run of of nine wins in 12 matches took them from outside the top eight to a finish of fifth on the table.

"We know what we have to do to be in with a chance," Cleary said.

"We just have to do it on the big stage."

Casting a cloud over Gold Coast's preparations have been injury concerns.

Fullback Preston Campbell was ruled out today with a hamstring complaint, while decisions will be made tomorrow morning on influential skipper Scott Prince (shoulder), fellow playmaker Mat Rogers (hip), centre Steve Michaels (shoulder), and forwards Ashley Harrison (broken nose), Brad Meyers (ribs) and Luke Bailey (hand).

But the Titans remain firm favourites with the bookmakers to do the business in front of their home fans and Cleary was happy for his players to be rated as outsiders.

"We probably do go in as pretty strong underdogs, if that's an oxymoron, but that's fair enough - they've been really good over the last few weeks."

Cleary believed the Titans' experience of 12 months ago, when they lost both their playoff matches, the first of which was at home, could also be a factor.

"They didn't win one last year so they will be keen to fix that up, but they might also be thinking they wouldn't want to go through another loss again," he said.

"It's a bit of pressure for them. We'll just try to sneak into town and make them beat us."

The Warriors have had to make one change to the squad they initially announced, with back-up hooker Alehana Mara pulling out with an ankle injury and replaced by second rower Sione Lousi on an expanded six-man bench from which two will be omitted.

The scenario for the Warriors if that, if they win, their next finals match will be at home.

If they lose, their hopes of staying alive rest on having at least two of the following three teams - St George Illawarra, Penrith and Wests Tigers - win their matches over the remainder of the weekend.

For the Warriors, their relatively short turnaround since they met Parramatta in Sydney last Saturday has been made more compressed by travel, including their trip back to Auckland after they beat the Eels.

Cleary said preparations this week were more mental than physical, and motivation hadn't been a problem.

The match marks the Warriors' first playoff appearance since they got to within one week of the grand final two years ago.

Eight of squad named to face the Titans were part of that finals campaign, while halfback Brett Seymour and substitutes Jacob Lillyman and Joel Moon have been to the post-season with other clubs.

"It's always good to have experience in finals," Cleary said.

"The intensity goes up a bit and everything moves a bit faster. The best part about it is that everyone is looking forward to it. It's exciting."

Teams:

New Zealand Warriors: Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, James Maloney, Brett Seymour, Sam Rapira, Aaron Heremaia, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering (captain), Lewis Brown, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Ben Matulino, Ukuma Ta'ai, Jacob Lillyman, Jesse Royal, Joel Moon, Sione Lousi (two to be omitted).

Gold Coast: William Zillman, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, Jordan Atkins, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (captain), Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Anthony Laffranchi, Greg Bird, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Matthew White, Bodene Thompson, Luke O'Dwyer (one to be omitted).

Referees: Tony Archer, Gavin Badger.

2010 results against Titans:
Round one at Robina - Gold Coast bt Warriors 24-18
Round 21 in Auckland - Gold Coast bt Warriors 28-20

- NZPA