Round 22: Warriors v Eels preview
Wahs look to go up as Eels strive to avoid the bottom
Friday night shapes as a season-defining clash for the New Zealand Warriors and Parramatta Eels as the two sides meet in Auckland for the first time in seven years.
Heading into the final weeks of the regular season in the precarious position of needing to win all remaining matches to stand a chance of qualifying for the finals on their own terms, the New Zealand Warriors will be staying focussed on their immediate opposition.
Bouncing back from a run of narrow losses to defeat the Wests Tigers 28-16 last Friday, coach Andrew Webster will welcome back Shaun Johnson and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad from injury, while Tom Ale has been recalled on the bench.
Holding a strong record over the Eels in Auckland with 12 wins from 18 prior meetings, the Warriors have struggled to recapture the heights of 2023 by managing four wins and a draw from eight matches at home this season.
Facing four current top eight teams in the weeks ahead before a bye in the final round, the Warriors will be on the road in three of their four remaining matches throughout August.
Enduring a rock bottom season that has the potential to hit further depths, the Parramatta Eels will be treating Friday night as a must-win in order to avoid the wooden spoon.
Succumbing to their sixth straight loss with a 32-14 defeat to the Storm last Friday, interim coach Trent Barrett has stuck solid with the same team, including Dan Keir who made his debut at the age of 26 last week.
The Eels will make their first appearance in New Zealand since 2017 on Friday evening; the blue and golds have enjoyed recent success over the Warriors with four wins from their past five meetings at all venues.
Currently sitting two points clear of last place with a substantively superior for-and-against differential, the Eels will be looking to create sufficient distance from the Wests Tigers before a final round match up at Campbelltown that could determine this year's recipient of the wooden spoon.
Last meeting: Round 19 2023 - Eels 10 Warriors 46
Who to watch: Set to oppose his former team for the first time on Friday evening, Marata Niukore will have his sights set on a big performance as the Warriors strive to remain in the hunt for the top eight. Coming full circle at the Warriors after starting out in the National Youth Competition, debuting with the Eels in first grade and returning home last season, the 28-year-old has been solid as both an edge and middle forward this season. Stringing together a run of games after managing just one appearance over the first half of the season, expect Niukore to run with added venom as he faces off against foes he used to call friends.
Going from Kiwi selection to languishing in reserve grade in less than a year, Wiremu Greig will be hoping to make the most of a rare opportunity in the top grade this year. Appearing in four NRL matches for a grand total of 95 minutes of game time in 2024, the 24-year-old front-rower has shown himself to be capable of greater impact based on his performance 12 months ago. Facing up against some of the most formidable forwards in the league, look for Greig's individual performance to be reflective of the Eels as a whole.
FAVOURITE: The Warriors are expected to flex their attacking muscles before another sold-out crowd in Auckland.
MY TIP: If the Warriors have any hope of featuring in finals football, they should emphatically account for the injury-depleted Eels. Warriors by 18.
