Warriors Vs. Eels - Preview

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Don’t for a second think the Warriors have forgotten the first week of finals from last year, where the Eels came across the Tasman and left 12-10 winners forcing the Warriors to a Townsville ambush and early exit.

They’ll tell the press all week it’s not on their minds, that it’s a new season, that it’s forgotten… blah, blah, blah.

All of that is bulldust. This team wants revenge – and they want it now.

Unfortunately they’ll have to strive for it without inspirational skipper Steve Price who vacates the side with a hamstring injury – Ruben Wiki will now start the match and in his place on the bench comes young tyro Sonny Fai.

Fai played in the Toyota Cup against the Storm, scoring twice in a beaten side, and with his 20th birthday coming this week he is hoping for a double celebration.

For the Eels, this match marks the possible return of the Kings Cross trio. Jarryd Hayne will most definitely play as Krisnan Inu is out with ankle damage, while Weller Hauraki and Junior Paulo have been added to a six-man bench.

The Eels conjured an impressive comeback against the ‘Dogs last week but coach Michael Hagan will have imprinted on their brains the need for a better start against the Warriors, who are unlikely to capitulate as easy as the boys from Canterbury.

Watch out Warriors!: The Eels made a mess of Bulldogs’ winger Matt Utai, targeting him with kicks and forcing him to make defensive decisions that he wasn’t very comfortable with.

The same game plan will be set down for Manu Vatuvei who has a well-publicised problem with his hands and can also make dodgy defensive decisions.

Who could forget the match at Parramatta Stadium last year where the winger dropped six balls, three of which directly led to tries?

Watch out Eels!: One man primed for a blinder is back-rower Logan Swann. It was Swann who could have provided the Warriors with a finals victory last year if he had only passed the football instead of going it alone and it’s a memory the 172-game veteran is desperate to erase. Expect to see Swann significantly increase his work rate.

Where it will be won: The loss of Price is a monumental one for the Warriors. As their main go-forward man, Price sets the platform for the backs to weave their magic. The contrast between the two sides’ metres gained in round one is significant.

Parramatta gained 1242 metres, the Warriors 1040 metres. The Eels also made significantly more metres from the boot (671 metres v 372 metres).

If the Warriors are to compete, they need to up the ante on the ground. Defensively they need to get up in the face of the Eels’ forwards and offensively they need to run with speed and purpose.

Parramatta conceded three tries against the Bulldogs, all from close range. That is where the Warriors need to set up camp if they are to win.

Discipline is also important. The Warriors gave away 12 penalties in round one, the most of any side, while Parramatta were the fourth best with half as many conceded. The home side can’t afford to give the Eels a leg-up.

The History: Played 22; Warriors 7, Eels 15. Parramatta have won seven of the past eight between the two clubs, including the faithful semi-final last season.

The Warriors’ lone win in those eight games came in round one last season when they triumphed 34-18.

The loss of Price gives the Eels favouritism. They showed extreme confidence and composure to come back when all seemed lost against the Bulldogs and proved that with ball control they can score points.

The Warriors on the other hand competed well against the reigning premiers, and will prove a handy side this season, but might find this one to be just a little out of reach. Eels in a close one.

Match officials: Referee – Shayne Hayne; Sideline Officials – Adam Devcich and Steve Carrall; Video ref – Tim Mander.

Televised: LIVE Foxsports 1 – 2pm NSW