NSW Cup: Rd.3 vs NZ Warriors

Wentworthville Magpies Side

1 Henry Raiwalui

2 Halauafu Lavaka

3 Ben Crooks

4 John Folau (Expected to be named in first grade)

5 Bureta Faraimo

6 Ryan Matterson

7 Luke Kelly

8 Peni Terepo

9 Sam Gorman

10 Daniel Alvaro

11 Nick Kassis

12 Joseph Ualesi

13 Cody Nelson

14 Lionel O’Mally

15 Fred Pakutoa

16 Fabian Goodall

22 Taniela Lasalo

Wenty come into this round sitting 0-2 after an extremely dissapointing start to the season. There were zero excuses for their effort in the season opener against the Bears where they were sluggish and simply out enthused by the underdog side. The cost of that game was weighed in far more than just premiership points as well with Adam Quinlan and Pauli Pauli sidelined with injuries along with Danny Wicks earning a seemingly one-way call up to first grade.

An improved effort was shown against the Tigers in Round 2 but some less than stellar efforts from senior members of the team in conjunction with an abysmal showing from the match officials saw the Tigers run away with the game in the final stanza. That brings us to Round 3 where the Warriors play host to the Magpies who have lost two more players in Vai Toutai and Ryan Morgan. Wenty will have at least one change to their gameday roster with NYC graduate John Folau tipped to make his first grade debut for the injured Vai Toutai.

The Magpies have leveraged their Ron Massey Cup roster in light of the mounting injury/selection crisis with Wenty stalwart Henry Rawalui and talented prospect Halauafu Lavaka earning spots in the starting backline. It seems likely that Fabian Goodall will come into the starting roster for Folau, opening up a spot in the team for Richie Fa'aso, pending clearance, or perhaps Tui Kamikamica.

It is terribly difficult to tip Wenty here given their struggles with form and injury. The Warriors embarrassed them last year when they made the trip to New Zealand and they look to be up against it again today. As such this will be a momentous test of their mettle, hopefully they can rise to the occasion!

"Not specifically you LB, I noted what you said about him being depth.....I do see some Corey Oates about him though and I would probably be happier seeing him get a crack at a wing, if he was going to be a regular. Baily worries me, I think he is a…"

Replies

Dorki wizard March 21, 2015 at 12:04pm

Nup you're not missing anything ... Anyone who thinks he's got something to offer has no idea.
- ParraMagic > Dorki wizard March 21, 2015 at 2:43pm
  
  Agreed. I wouldn't mind if he isn't kept beyond this year.
Braeden Kelly March 21, 2015 at 12:08pm

ZDC is not much.... I would be letting him go ASAP, his kicking game is hopeless. He had a lot of ball on their line and his short kicking game is dreadful.
Nathan Davis js not a fullback, his 1-1 defence is hopeless, if he is the best outside back we have we are in trouble
Braeden Kelly March 21, 2015 at 12:19pm

Twice now the warriors have gribble a the ball Into the ingoal and Davis has gone to let it go they have ran around him and scored.....
Forty20 March 21, 2015 at 12:25pm

I'm not feeling too flash today fellas (and ladies) so I might give the call for this game a miss. If anyone wants to fill in have at it otherwise general discussion for the game can just go here.
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 March 21, 2015 at 12:40pm

Goodall takes Folau's centre spot, who steps up to NRL.
Forty20 March 21, 2015 at 12:41pm

Jack Madden and Zeb Tawha come onto the bench. No Fa'aoso.

Fabian Goodall comes into the centres for Folau while Lionel O'Malley drops off the bench for Madden.
The True Parra fan March 21, 2015 at 1:28pm

26 - 12 struggling not going well . I hope the guys pick there game second half .
Bup March 21, 2015 at 1:30pm

Wenty down 26-12 at half time. I know the score suggests it, but watching on fox our defence is nothing short of atrocious. Let's hope there's no more injurys to our top squad. BA would be mortified at our line speed, first contact and lateral movement in defence. Majority of these players are a long way short of first grade standard.
- sixtiesboy > Bup March 21, 2015 at 1:37pm
  
  This Wenty team is suffering through the injury crisis. There are players who are at best park footballers that are playing for Wenty. That is not putting them down, it's just a fact. These are blokes contracted to Wenty who are probably expecting to play RM Cup.