NRL: Warriors prop looking forward to a scrap

Jacob Lillyman of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Jacob Lillyman grins like a cat about to get his claws into a mouse when the topic comes up.

The gnarly Warriors and Queensland prop is like a lot of forwards who enjoy what is commonly known as the arm wrestle and he's relishing the prospect of a scrap with the Storm in Melbourne tomorrow night.

The halves or hookers might say it's them who run the game, and others might predict outsides like Billy Slater and Manu Vatuvei hold the key, but they can only do that if the big men up front have the upper hand.

"You have to be prepared to get the sleeves dirty and get in the trenches and really slug it out because that's what it's about at this time of year," Lillyman said with delight."

It's about getting into that arm wrestle and waiting for someone to crack first. You have to get that even share of possession and make the most of limited opportunities because, against Melbourne, you're not going to get many.

"A few of us forwards really enjoy that game. The free-flowing stuff is all well and good but we love a good, old fashioned slug-fest. If we can get one of those, we will be happy."

Lillyman talks from experience. As one of only two current Warriors players to have played in a grand final when his Cowboys side were beaten by the Wests Tigers in 2005 - Lance Hohaia was a member of the 2002 Warriors side that played the Roosters - he's familiar with how to play winning finals football.

He's also been one of the most consistent Warriors players all season and it helped him earn a recall to the Queensland State of Origin side.

The Warriors will need to pick up where they left off against the Tigers last weekend, when they overturned an 18-6 halftime deficit to dramatically snatch a 22-20 win to stay alive.

"That [second half] is the template we need and is the way we are going to beat sides," Lillyman said. "There are no shortcuts involved. If we can start the game playing like that, we will go a long way to getting a victory."

It's what they did when they beat the Storm 18-14 in Melbourne in April. It's also what they did when the made history in 2008 by becoming the first eighth-placed side to beat the minor premiers (Storm) in the first round of the playoffs.

A lot has been said and written about that game three years ago and, while it's one of the highlights of Hohaia's long Warriors career, he's not sure the Storm were as motivated as they will be tomorrow.

"They approached the game hoping to win, hoping they just had to turn up to win," Hohaia remembers. "We were able to put in one of our best performances of the year, and we had a great year that year, and got the win. It was pretty special.

"After what happened last time I think there will be some who give us a chance but obviously Melbourne are favourites for a reason. They are minor premiers again this year and are a great side. But that means stuff all when you get on the field. They have to do it all again. They understand that and so do we."

Containing Storm hooker Cameron Smith is crucial. Coach Ivan Cleary described him as the "conductor" and said they would be in for a long night if they didn't restrict his influence.

Aaron Heremaia will line up opposite Smith as the Warriors' starting hooker.

"We all know he's the best No 9 in the game," Heremaia said. "He's the one we all look up to. He's where it all starts. I don't think we can stop what he does, but we can certainly limit what he does. And that goes for Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk too because that's their little triangle there.

"The boys in the middle definitely have a big job limiting what he does and putting pressure on him to make decisions rather than letting him do what he does like we did with Benji Marshall in that first half last weekend."

And Lillyman wouldn't want it any other way.