Preview: Warriors v Titans
VENUE & TIME: Mt Smart Stadium, Sunday August 1, 2:00pm (NZT)
COVERAGE: Channel 9
HEAD TO HEAD: Warriors 2, Titans 4
LAST TIME: Titans 24 - Warriors 18 at Skilled Park, Round 1, 2010
MATCH ODDS:
TAB NZ: Warriors $1.50, Titans $2.45
WALKING WOUNDED: The Warriors' feeble bodies continue to crumble with centre Jerome Ropati out for up to three weeks with a groin strain and wing Kevin Locke suffering a hamstring injury. That sees in-form back-rower Lewis Brown cover Ropati and big Bill Tupou comes in for his ninth NRL appearance. Prop Sam Rapira is also still restricted by an ongoing knee injury.
The visitors travel to Auckland without two key proven performers. New South Wales star Greg Bird and Queensland's Mr Dependable Ashley Harrison are both sidelined. Mat Rogers assumes the second-receiver role for the second week and Clinton Toopi stands in at centre, against his former club.
FORM: The Warriors were flat last week in losing 38-28 to South Sydney, with 28 second-half points showing how weak the defensive effort was. The defeat snapped a five-match winning streak that saw the club climb to fourth on the ladder.
Gold Coast pulled off a miraculous last-minute golden-point win over the league-leading Dragons last week. However, the victory masks three consecutive losses prior to that match.
WHO'S HOT: The tag-team Warriors hookers are an underrated combination. Aaron Heremaia provides footwork and ball-playing ability, while Ian Henderson's aggression and spark off the bench is invaluable.
Rogers will be brimming with confidence after slotting the drop goal that sank the Dragons last week. The Titans' little men have to be watched closely. Scott Prince, Preston Campbell, Rogers and Nathan Friend team up for a lethal combination that catches tiring forwards napping in and around the ruck.
WE THINK: The Warriors are sixth and the Titans seventh so you don't want to miss this match-up. Both sides will be desperate to claim another two competition points that will cement their spot in the top eight in the run-in to the playoffs. Over the past month or so the Warriors have grown in confidence as a unit and you don't lose that in one week. All the noises at training this week pointed at reclaiming their desperation in defence and if that happens their crowd will get them home. Warriors by 6.