Shocker against Broncos motivation to put things right against dangerous foes The Warriors won't have any problem rumbling down the field against the Tigers tonight. It's what happens when they get there that will determine their fate.
I'm absolutely certain they will be a whole lot better than last weekin Brisbane when they produced what can only be described as a shocker. After that display, the motivation to put things right will be intense.
Obviously they have an issue there in terms of defusing kicks. Contesting kicks has become an even more vital part of the game now the finals are here, as the Broncos and Manly have shown.
After Manu Vatuvei's rough night against the Broncos it wouldn't surprise me if the Warriors look to push Krisnan Inu back to deal with last-tackle kicks. Inu is unquestionably the best kick-diffuser in the side. He's got such a natural ability under the high ball. I'm also expecting the level of support around the kick-receivers to be a whole lot better.
The most crucial thing for the Warriors is how they react when they get into good field position. There's no doubt they have the forward power to get them there. I still believe their rotation is the best in the comp. The question is what they do when they get into prime field position. It's crucial Shaun Johnson, James Maloney and Feleti Mateo control the game.
One thing I learned playing under Phil Gould is that you can't win a game in the first 20 minutes but you can certainly lose it. That's precisely what the Warriors did against the Broncos.
In league you have to earn the right to play expansively and the Warriors didn't do that. They were overexcited and overplayed their hand. And they really didn't need to force it. They are one of the best teams in the comp at offloading and creating second-phase play. It comes naturally to them.
We'll all know after the first 20 minutes how the Warriors are going to go. If they keep their composure and stay in the game, they'll have every chance of pulling off the upset.
But they are facing a Tigers side that looks a hell of lot like the club's champion team of 2005. There may only be four players left at the club from that team, but two of them are Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall. Those two certainly won't panic under pressure. They've played so many big games.
One of the keys to the Tigers is that they know how to play with Benji. He's the best in the business at engaging defenders and teasing them out of the line. That creates holes that his teammates are brilliant at running into. Out wide the Tigers have two of the best centres in the business, while their back rowers Gareth Ellis and Liam Fulton also read the game brilliantly.
Chris Lawrence and Blake Ayshford will be the NSW centre pairing in the not-too-distant future. They're both deadly. Fullback Tim Moltzen is the final piece of the puzzle for the Tigers. He does the same sort of job Brett Hodgson did in '05. It all adds up to a team that is the best in the competition at playing east to west.
The Tigers are a well-oiled machine all right, and given a chance they can be deadly. But the Warriors are among the best at playing north to south. They will have a big edge up front. Hopefully this time they use it.
