Matchday Details
Friday 27 March – 6:00pm (AEDT) – Go Media Stadium, Auckland
📺 Broadcast: Fox League / Kayo
Referee: Adam Gee | Bunker: Chris Butler
New Zealand Warriors
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Ali Leiataua, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Luke Metcalf, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Jacob Laban, 13. Erin Clark, 14. Sam Healey, 15. Mitchell Barnett, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith, 18. Marata Niukore, 20. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 21. Taine Tuaupiki, 22. Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 23. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava
Wests Tigers
1. Jahream Bula, 2. Jeral Skelton, 3. Sunia Turuva, 4. Heamasi Makasini, 5. Luke Laulilii, 6. Jock Madden, 7. Adam Doueihi, 8. Terrell May, 9. Apisai Koroisau, 10. Fonua Pole, 11. Samuela Fainu, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Alex Twal, 14. Tristan Hope, 15. Sione Fainu, 16. Royce Hunt, 17. Alex Seyfarth, 18. Bunty Afoa, 19. Faaletino Tavana, 20. Tony Sukkar, 21. Latu Fainu, 22. Patrick Herbert.
Match Preview
Friday night footy travels to Auckland in Round 4, as the Warriors look to keep their unbeaten start to the season alive against the Tigers.
The Warriors come into this game high on confidence, having soundly beaten the Knights 38-10 last week in Newcastle. They sit on top of the ladder, while the Tigers are in fifth, licking their wounds after suffering a narrow 20-16 loss to the Rabbitohs in Gosford.
For the Warriors, there’s a huge inclusion in the halves with Luke Metcalf named to make his first start of the year at five-eighth. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad returns at fullback after missing last week with concussion. Adam Pompey also returns at centre after being a late out last week. These moves push Taine Tuaupiki back to the reserves and Leka Halasima back to the second row.
For the Tigers, Jarome Luai is out after suffering a knee injury last week. Jock Madden replaces him at five-eighth. Adam Doueihi is named at halfback despite an injury scare to his hamstring last week. Bunty Afoa and Faaletino Tavana join the six-man bench, and Latu Fainu is named in the reserves as he looks to return from off-season shoulder surgery.
The Warriors find themselves on top of the NRL ladder after a scintillating opening three rounds. The scary thing about their form is they’ve done it with several of the stars sidelined. Tanah Boyd has been exceptional in the halfback role, so much so that he’s kept the spot despite Metcalf returning from injury. It remains to be seen if they can maintain their momentum against the Tigers with Metcalf back in the fold; however they’ve shown no signs of slowing down.
If they do continue to click in attack, expect them to target the new Tigers defensive combo of Jock Madden, Samuela Fainu, and Heamasi Makasini on the left edge. That side was exposed by the Rabbitohs last week, and with Jarome Luai absent could be prone to more lapses in communication and judgement.
On the flip side, the Tigers will be counting their lucky stars that Doueihi is fit to play this week, after he picked up what looked like a serious hamstring injury last week. With Luai already ruled out, the attack will need to flow through him and Api Koroisau, with Madden providing support at five-eighth. With a new halves combination, the forward pack will have their work cut out for them laying a platform against this Warriors side.
Their key to exposing the Warriors’ tough middle will be finding second-phase play with offloads. The Tigers did this incredibly well in Round 2 against the Cowboys, but lost their way last week against the Rabbitohs when their discipline let them down early. All their forwards have proven they’re capable of offloading, it’ll just come down to how disciplined they are in hostile territory.
The Warriors have won their last eight games against the Tigers across all venues.
Prediction
RLZ Tip: Warriors by 16 points.
Bold call: Metcalf scores a try and gets man of the match in his return game.
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