A week is a long time in football. From the highs of enjoying the deserved accolades in a faultless performance over the Dragons last week, to a trip to the local Officeworks to purchase a new drawing board this week.
Warriors v Panthers Round 4 review
Warriors fans are more than used to the rollercoaster of emotions in supporting their side, and sadly this episode was all too familiar.
For all the finger pointing and armchair critics opinions, we do need to reserve some perspective that these are still very different times for all involved. A raft of changes throughout the week doesn’t help even the best of teams, but the clubs depth is being severely tested once again.
Similarly the Panthers also fielded a rather inexperienced line-up as well. However you can’t help but feel their juniors seem to be a lot more up for it than ours.
Head to Head
45 – This was the 45th instalment of this rivalry. Setting a new club record for the most times the Warriors have played another opponent.
26 – This was the Warriors 26th loss to the Panthers in the clubs history. Drawing level with the Storm as their most losses against another current NRL club.
12 – This was the Warriors twelfth loss to the Panthers in their past 16 games, dating back to 2014.
1 – And of the four wins from the 16 games, only one of them has come in Sydney.
11 – In their past 11 encounters, away from home. The Warriors have won just three.
9 – This was the ninth time in the clubs history that they have been kept scoreless. Six of those occasions coming in the past six seasons.
Match Stats
4 – The Warriors have won just four of their 12 games at Campbelltown Stadium. Their last victory there was back in 2007.
194 – The Warriors have conceded 194 points in their past four games at Campbelltown. 168 of those against the Tigers.
8 – The Warriors have lost eight of their last nine games in Sydney.
82 – Positively, the Warriors ball control is still in the higher bracket of the competition, currently sitting second overall with a 82% completion rate.
24 – The Warriors sit dead last for points scored in 2020, with just 24 on the board. The lowest in the clubs history. On only three other occasions have they scored less than 50 points after four rounds (1996 – 38 including one bye), (1997 – 40), (2013 – 48).
3 – The Warriors have scored just three tries in 2020, even if they doubled this, it would still be the lowest in the competition.
Player Stats
100 – In stark contract to last week, only Tohu Harris and King Vuniyayawa managed to run for over 100 metres in the Warriors forwards. Harris again the stand out with 224 metres.
100 – Whilst not as effective as the Dragons game, all of the Warriors outside backs managed to cross the 100 metres run barrier. Showing a little less reliance on usual metre eaters, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the injured Ken Maumalo.
118 – The un-flash Gerard Beale continues to do a job for the Warriors in midfield. Currently running for his highest metres per game since 2011. Whilst being in career best form defensively as well.
416 – Blake Green’s kicking meterage has increased in recent weeks; out of defensive necessity more than anything. He currently sits second for the most metres kicked in the NRL in 2020, he is kicking for nearly 120 metres more per match than his previous seasons best of 284 metres per match in 2019.
Warriors v Cowboys Round 5 preview
Next up for the Warriors is fellow 1995 inducted side, the North Queensland Cowboys. Fortunately, they won’t have to face the arduous journey to Townsville this time round.
History shows that it has been an extremely even battle between these two sides over the past 25 years.
Some big threats loom in the Cowboys, in the form of Jason Taumalolo (included on an extended bench and expected to play) and Valentine Holmes. There is no more fearsome sight in Rugby League than Taumalolo with a head of steam up, his running metres continue to defy belief for a forward – averaging 273 metres per game in 2020.
Head to Head
41 – This will be the 41st instalment of the Warriors v Cowboys rivalry.
20 – History will show that it has been an even contest over the past 25 years, both sides sit at 20 wins a-piece.
7 – Things have also been fairly even over the past 15 games between the sides, with the Warriors coming out on top on seven occasions.
30 – However, the Warriors only have a 30% win ratio away from home against the Cowboys. Banking 14 of their 20 wins when playing in Auckland – the distance between their home towns clearly a factor in the past.
1 – This will be the first time that these two sides have played at a neutral venue.
Match Stats
3 – The Warriors have won three of their four games they have played at their current “home” in Gosford.
3 – The Warriors have won just three of their last 10 games in Australia.
5 – The Cowboys are a far more attacking outfit than the Warriors in 2020. Sitting in the top five in the NRL for Tries Scored, Linebreaks, Post Contact Metres, Running Metres and Kick Return Metres.
The Coach
3 – Stephen Kearney has won three of his seven games against the Cowboys as a head coach. One in his time in charge of the Eels.
10 – All three of his victories have been by 10 points or less.
Player Stats
101 – It’s early days, but Adam Blair is running at a career high 101 metres per game currently in 2020. By far and away his most effective running numbers in Warriors colours.
170 – The Warriors form forward in 2020, Tohu Harris is currently sitting in seventh place overall on the top tacklers in the NRL this season. Ahead of other elite backrowers such as Jake Trbojevic, Payne Haas and Jai Arrow.
5 – Harris has also run for the fifth most metres for a forward in 2020. His 698 metres run, sits him behind only Jason Taumalolo, James Fisher-Harris, David Klemmer and Payne Haas.
6 – Blake Green has won his last six straight games against the Cowboys. Two with the Warriors, one with Manly and three in his time at the Storm.
7 – Tohu Harris has won seven of his past eight games against the Cowboys. Two with the Warriors, and five with the Storm.
Milestones
50 – Adam Blair will make his 50th NRL appearance for the Warriors. It will also be his 316th NRL appearance in total, extending his current record for the most games by a Kiwi.
50 – Lachlan Burr has also been named to make his 50th NRL appearance in his NRL career. It will be his 26th game for the Warriors; adding to his 23 games for the Titans and one game for the Bulldogs. He has also made 31 appearances for English side Leigh.
49 – Skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck needs just one more try to bring up 50 in his NRL career. Tellingly, he has scored in his past two games against the Cowboys.
Did you Know:
50 – As Adam Blair brings up his 50th appearance in Warriors colours, this will be his fourth club he has achieved this milestone with. He has previously played for the Storm (121 games), Tigers (71) and the Broncos (74).
Categories: Team News + Stats, WARRIORS NEWS
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