Action stations

Well a couple of games coming up tonight - Dogs v Tigers and Broncoes v Storm. The grand final replay should be a good game - if theres any change to the Warriors table position after these results I will update the status report in the upper right hand corner of the blog - although only a Dogs win should have any effect.

Cleary has noted that the Warriors have not won away this year yet (losses to Manly and the Storm)- and he is not happy about it - wants to improve the away form of the boys this week against the Rabs. Frankly I can see the Warriors losing this week but at least they could then say as an excuse that they have lost to the three best teams in the NRL away?

And does anyone apart from me think its bizarre that the premier league feeder club of the South Sydney Rabbitohs these days is the North Sydney Bears - isn't something about that just geographically wrong? Its a sad story for the Bears though - to go from being an NRL franchise in their own right to being a joint partner in the Northern Eagles - to being a premier league feeder to the Rabbitohs - ouch - bet the old Norths boys don't like that much. Or maybe its all part of a Jason Taylor (Norths 1994-99) master plan now that he coachs the Rabs? Anyway the Warriors feeder side Auckland Lions play the Bears this weekend - it looks to be a pretty strong Bears side featuring former Penrith grand final winner Joe Galuvao.

Super Rabs

To touch quickly on the two big sporting matches mentioned in my previous post - obviously the collapse of the Black Caps when it really mattered was a big disaster - but then again making the semis was likely all anyone expected anyway? Or is that the problem - even the team thought their tournament was unlikely to continue beyond the semis? Fleming gone as captain - should only be picked in the team on form in future.

As for Man U those of you lucky enough to watch the game against AC Milan witnessed one of the most spectacular and entertaining matches in recent memory - Man U up 1-0 early on only for Milan to come back to lead 2-1 after Kaka scored twice in the first half - only for Rooney to score twice in the second half including an injury time 91st minute screamer for Man U to win 3-2. Stunning sporting entertainment. Chelsea beat Liverpool 1-0 in their leg 1 semi but the differences in the scorelines typifies the differences in the teams - Chelsea are a boring team and tough to watch.

Anyway on the subject of the Rabbitohs they are clearly enjoying a revival after a complete offseason revival and the forwards matchup of the incumbent Kiwi captain vs ex captain Wiki looks to be a good one. TAB have Warriors as favourites but I note the Sydney morning herald "expert" tipping panel is unanimously picking the Rabs. Should be a good match - enjoy.

The latest

A big day in world sports today - NZ v Sri Lanka to play in the first world cup cricket semi-final - as of writing that game is due to start in less than 1 hour. And tonight at 7.45pm UK time Manchester United will play the home leg of their Champions League semi final vs AC Milan. Both massive games!

Following on from the post below it turns out that Walker has been spared the axe by the Titans on the condition that he go into rehab for eight weeks during which time he will not play first grade NRL.

Warriors news - this week we look forward to a big round 6 match up against the red hot - beleive it or not - Rabbitohs. I am unlikely to be able to post any Watership down material this time - I recall that in the most recent matchup between these teams the Warriors won 66-0.

Anyway Witt's contract has been extended for two years after his impressive play filling in for the long term injured Jerome Ropati (who has recently played his first game back in Bartercard - scoring a try for the Auckland Lions) and Cleary has named his team to play this weekend including a return of Gatis to the bench. Looks promising. Jerome is play another week in Bartercard and will be joined by fullback recruit Aidan Kirk who is also returning from long term injury.

Possible brain explosion candidate?

I quite like this story about recurring offender Chris Walker getting tossed from a nightclub over Easter and subsequently on the verge of being axed by the Titans. It's since been revealed Walker is suffering from a 'psychological condition', which is exacerbated by alcohol use." The Daily Telegraph in Australia has the scoop that the Titans won't fire Walker after revelations that Walker has "alcohol dependency, brought on by anxiety". Seems to be some confusion here - whether the alcohol causes the mental problem or the mental problem causes the drinking.

Genuine mental illness aside alot of problem drinkers have this condition - that is - can't control their drinking or their behaviour once they are drunk. Without wanting to cast the first stone, this mental illness ploy is PR BS as far as I am concerned. Walker would be better off to be contrite, admit a drinking problem in a public statement and then go to AA.

The Titans were considered the last stop for Walker, who has acrimoniously split with Brisbane, Sydney Roosters, South Sydney and Melbourne during a chequered career. His most infamous brain explosion was in May 2004 when he was charged with assaulting police outside Brisbane's casino during an Origin camp and dumped from the Queensland squad.

Who would win in a Sione v Walker drinking face off?

Brain Explosion drought?

Well theres a long way to go but this years NRL seems to have been marked by a high degree of focus on quality football and little or no scandal or brain explosion drama. SBW had a drunken encounter with a female triathlete in a toilet (pictured at right) but his girlfriend is standing by him and Mason's brain exploded permanently a long long time ago but nothing has really tipped the scales sufficiently to qualify for the brain explosion 2007 prize. If anyone has further suggestions just let me know as this state of affairs is far to fragile to continue indefinitely.

I had also missed this story re the Warriors being "cashed up" and looking to spend up to $400k on a new player in 2008. Apparently the depature of stars (like Webb) and the strong kiwi dollar mean the Warriors will have money to spend - but it still may not be enough to attract a star quality centre. The story also notes that the Warriors are likely to re-sign around two-thirds of the nine players who come off contract this season. Seven of those players are wings Todd Byrne and Cooper Vuna, centre Tony Martin, utility Lance Hohaia, standoff Michael Witt, hooker George Gatis and second-rower Logan Swann.

ANZAC test bye week - Taking Stock

ANZAC test this week so a bye for the Warriors - I have to say I am becoming ambivalent about one off league internationals and would be interested in your thoughts on the kiwis chances this week.

As for the Warriors, those that aren't involved in the test will have a week off to train and relax. As will all the other NRL sides whose players aren't in the test - as such the test bye is by no means a true bye for the Warriors as they typically have a large number of players contributing to the kiwi side together with Price in the Australian pack. This year only Price, Mannering, Rapira, Tuimavave, and Vatuvei have been named in the respective squad lists - accordingly there will be a significant portion of the Warriors squad able to rest and heal any lingering injury worries.

With that said lets take a look at the post-bye run of ten games that the Warriors have (with the current table position of the opponent teams):

Round 7 - Rabbitohs (A) - 5th
Round 8 - Sharks (H) - 9th
Round 9 - Knights (A) - 8th
Round 10- Tigers (H) - 14th
Origin 1 - midweek
Round 11 - Eels (A) - 6th
Round 12 - Dogs (H) - 10th
Round 13 - Storm (H) - 2nd
Origin 2 - midweek
Round 14 - Sharks (A) - 9th
Round 15 - Panthers (H) - 11th
Round 16 - Titans (A) - 7th
Origin 3 - midweek

If we divide these games into three blocks - between each Origin match - of the first block I think Cleary should be aiming to win at least three of these four games with (perversely) the Rabbitohs away likely to be the toughest of these games, although Asotasi and Fa'alogo are both named in the kiwi test squad. Post Origin 1 I would suggest the Eels away should be a close win with Dogs and Storm at home both tough games - but the Warriors should be looking to make the most of their home ground advantage (100% this year) and win these as well. Post Origin 2 the Sharks, Panthers and Titans are also all winnable games. There is usually some benefit to the Warriors in the pre and post Origin matches as the NSW and Queensland players stand down in the round before Origin and have to back up for their clubs the following week so hopefully that should soften up in particular the Storm (Slater standing down?) in round 13.

However I don't really expect the Warriors to win all ten or even nine of these games, I think six or seven is a realistic target and will go a long way to guaranteeing a playoff berth. I am ready to lose to the Rabs, the Storm and maybe the Eels or Titans or splitting the two games with the Sharks. All the others I will be looking for wins - however we need to prove we can win away from home this season and a whipping of the Rabs and Knights would be a good way to get the monkey off the players backs.

Enjoy the ANZAC test this week.

Warriors blast Cowboys

Great win for the boys this week managing to hammer the Cowboys at home 34-14. Sounds like a close contest up until the end when the Warriors ran amok. Good to see and with the ANZAC test break coming up lets hope the team can continue to consolidate a solid fourth table position after the bye.