Warriors burning questions: Who will win fullback showdown?
Back at home in front of another full house, the high-flying Warriors are shooting for four wins on the trot.
With a winnable next four games (Dragons, Titans, Knights and Roosters) on the horizon, a showdown with the enigmatic Manly Sea Eagles shapes as a critical one that could set the Warriors on a path towards the top four.
Manly come into today’s match fresh from beating the Penrith Panthers but they were woeful the week before when losing to the Dragons. So will it be the Warriors’ consistency that shines or will they run into the best version of the Sea Eagles?
Stuff reporters Mat Kermeen and Joseph Pearson tackle this week’s burning Warriors questions below.
He was brilliant last week – will Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad win the fullback battle with Tom ‘Turbo’ Trbojevic?
Mat Kermeen: As dangerous as they are, both men will be reliant on what happens in front of them in terms of ruck speed, but this head-to-head battle is going to be quite something. Neither can be counted out at any stage.
In the red corner we have an Australian and New South Wales superstar who can turn something into nothing with his electric speed, and in the blue corner is a workhorse with a heart bigger than Texas.
Last week was Nicoll-Klokstad’s first match since November 3. If he can back that up or even improve on it, the tenacity in his V12 engine can outrun the Turbo.
Joseph Pearson: There is no better running fullback than Tom Trbojevic. It’s a shame Turbo has been riddled with injuries for much of his career, limiting his impact.
Nicoll-Klokstad made an excellent return from a troubling hamstring injury against South Sydney. Through the middle and out wide, he gave the Warriors’ attack a new dimension and could be one of the most under-rated fullbacks, although there are so many great No 1s.
His strong defensive game and positioning gives Nicoll-Klokstad the edge over Trbojevic, on form from last year at least, and he will relish his first match of 2024 at a sold-out Mt Smart.
The Sea Eagles stunned the Penrith Panthers in round five. How worried should Warriors fans be about them going again?
Kermeen: With Nathan Cleary missing, the Panthers went down fighting on an emotional day on the Northern Beaches where Daly Cherry-Evans took over the record of another club legend, Cliff Lyons, as the most capped Sea Eagle ever, with his 310th appearance.
Now they need to back it up seven days later at a sold-out Mt Smart where the consistent and disciplined Warriors (that still doesn’t roll off the tongue, yet) will attempt to grind them into the ground.
Manly are a good side, they can win for sure, and the Warriors will need to be as good as they have been – if not better – but this week is a different assignment for the Sea Eagles. There’s no room for complacency but the Warriors are favourites for a reason.
Pearson: The Panthers are arguably the greatest team in NRL history. Any side that beats them must be quality. Also, Manly did more than beat Penrith. They smashed them through the middle.
Prop Nathan Brown, in only his fifth NRL game, rattled the Panthers with some ferocious hit-ups. Brown cared not for his safety. He wanted to break Penrith.
Still, the Sea Eagles have been one of the competition's most inconsistent teams. They lost to the lowly Dragons the previous week. With an identical record to the Warriors, the home side are slight favourites.
With Bunty Afoa joining Marata Niukore and Dylan Walker on the injured list, can Addin Fonua-Blake continue to dominate the middle of the field for the Warriors?
Kermeen: Absolutely he can and he will be fired up to do so against his old club. The big man is in the form of his life but what a time it would be for a Tom Ale breakout game or a return to form from Jazz Tevaga, to offer a bit of assistance.
Mitch Barnett moving back to the middle is a huge asset for the Warriors, as is the return of Kurt Capewell.
Pearson: The Warriors rely heavily on the imposing Fonua-Blake to march them up field. The determined, unflinching Bunty Afoa eased that workload and with Niukore and Walker also sidelined, the Warriors might become vulnerable to fatigue without some of their best workhorses.
Still, their starting pack is probably firstchoice and young forwards Ale and Jacob Laban are players of great promise. Don't forget Tevaga off the bench, too. He loves the hard metres.