Round 18: Warriors v Rabbitohs preview
Improved Warriors take on beaten Bunnies
The NRL's most improved side in the New Zealand Warriors returns home to a sell-out crowd when they take on the South Sydney Rabbitohs at Mt Smart Stadium.
What a turn-around it has been from the boys across the ditch. It's hard to compare this team to the one that was trotting around at this point last season. This goes to show the hard work of Andrew Webster and the coaching staff to prepare the team for the uphill battle of the NRL. Shaun Johnson and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad are continuing their career renaissance accepting the platform given by strong forwards Addin Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris.
To beat South Sydney, they need to take a leaf out of the Cowboys books. Frustrate them early and defend your line. The Warriors have held remarkably well against sides at home this season, only losing one game at Mt Smart (as well as one in Napier). This shows that New Zealand is finally returning as a premiership fortress that the Warriors can sell out on a weekly basis and with their enterprising play of attacking footy and bone-crunching defence. It's a little wonder why the second coming of the Warriors is off to a smashing success.
There is one forced change for the Wahs this week. Marata Niukore has been suspended after a high shot on Moses Suli. This is offset by the return of Mitch Barnett from a suspension of his own. Luke Metcalf will retain his spot for the moment, but Te Maire Martin is approaching a return from a leg fracture. Elsewhere it's the same side that thrashed the Dragons.
After Round 11, everyone was pencilling in Souths as a lock for the top 4, now that assessment appears to be on rather shaky ground. With only one win out of their last 5, the Bunnies are on shaky ground. One loss in this premiership race can literally be the difference between double chance, the finals or missing out altogether. Last start against the Cowboys was a poor performance which showed a distinct lack of attacking flair without their pin up boy Latrell Mitchell.
To beat the Warriors, they need to win the middle. The Wahs pack has been consistently winning their forward battles which allows their backs to dominate out wide. In their lone win against the Titans, they were able to get over the top eventually and it showed on the score-board. Another area is holding the football, they are ranked lowly in the NRL for completions and completed at 67% last week. Hold the football and get to your kick should be high on Jason Demetriou's whiteboard.
On the team front. Jacob Host is suspended, his position is taken by Michael Chee-Kam. Siliva Havili returns on the bench after playing NSW Cup last weekend while Shaquai Mitchell also joins the bench. Jed Cartwright and Peter Mamouzelos drop out.
Last meeting: Round 21 2022 - Rabbitohs 48 Warriors 10
Who to watch: In my opinion, Addin Fonua-Blake is the best front-rower in the competition. While that might raise some eye-brows, the impact he brings to this Warriors pack is unmatched in the NRL. His ability to generate momentum with consistent barnstorming efforts is the main reason behind the Warriors revival this season. Averaging well over 150m a game, AFB winning his positional match up with Tevita Tatola will go a long way to securing victory.
Replacing Latrell Mitchell is no mean feet, but the pressure has gotten to Blake Taaffe in his third relief stint for Latrell in as many years. Outside of the win against the Titans, Taaffe has struggled to get into matches effectively nullifying his greatest asset which is his running game. Taaffe needs to demand the football out the back as the second receiver and take advantage of some at times poor edge defenders on the opposition.
Favourite: New Zealand are the favourites heading into this clash against the Rabbitohs. In recent clashes, Souths have had the dominant head to head history including a 60 point effort in 2021.
My tip: The lure of returning home and a sell-out crowd is too much for me. That on top of what has been an amazing renewal of SJ's career should be enough to spark the Warriors to the statement victory that they need on the march to September football. It'll be close, but Warriors to take it by 4.
