Saturday first NRL Round 4 match is between New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers with the opening kick to commence at 15:00pm. The game is to be played at Westpac Stadium which see’s home team New Zealand Warriors hold favouritism in the market. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers.
WHERE AND WHEN: 15:00 | Saturday 29/03/2014 @ Westpac Stadium
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Odds Comparison:
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| New Zealand Warriors | 1.48 | 1.47 | 1.50 | 1.47 | 1.48 | 1.50 |
| Wests Tigers | 2.70 | 2.75 | 2.65 | 2.75 | 2.70 | 2.65 |
All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.
Preview:
After two poor performances resulting in losses to the Eels (round 1) and the Dragons (round 2), not many gave hope to the Warriors who had to travel to Townsville last week to take on the Cowboys.
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A good start though, their first of the season, saw the Warriors establish an 8 – nil lead early, a margin that was dwindled to 2 points at halftime, 8 – 6.
Two more second half tries again set up a comfortable margin but the Cowboys closed with two tries of their own and were finishing fast, it was only a toe on the line from Cowboys winger Kane Linnett with a minute to go, that helped the Warriors hang on by a thread for a much needed win.
It wasn’t pretty but after the first two weeks, the Warriors just needed a win anyway they could get it and now that the ball is rolling, they’ll be keen to keep the momentum up this week against the Tigers.
After a 20 point loss to the Dragons in week 1, the Tigers surprised everyone with wins as long outsiders firstly over the Titans on the Gold Coast (42 – 12) and last week, against competition favourites South Sydney (25 – 16).
The Tigers have been playing with great enthusiasm and commitment over the past two weeks and are playing a brand of football that belies there premiership odds.
The Tigers haven’t been afraid to chance their arm in attack so far this year, having posted a total of fourteen tries, including twice within the first five minutes of the match, compared to the Warriors who have only a total of nine.
These two sides have produced some great clashes in the past few seasons, with no more than 10 points separating them at the conclusion of their last five matches, of which the Warriors have won three including their only home game during this time.
It has been easier to be impressed by the Tigers over the past fortnight than the Warriors – hard see the Warriors beating Souths in their current form, and the price on offer about the Tigers is inviting.
Only one change for each team form last week with the Warrior’s Feleti Mateo replaced by Thomas Leuluai and for the Tigers, Corey Patterson comes in for Liam Fulton who will sit this one out after suffering a concussion last week. TIGERS to keep the good form going.
Teams:
New Zealand Warriors:
Sam Tomkins, Glen Fisiiahi, Dane Nielsen, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Chad Townsend, Shaun Johnson, Sam Rapira, Nathan Friend, Ben Matulino, Jayson Bukuya, Simon Mannering, Sione Lousi. Interchange: Jacob Lillyman, Suaia Matagi, Konrad Hurrell, Thomas Leuluai
Ins: Thomas Leuluai
Outs: Feleti Mateo (knee, indefinite)
Other unavailables: Ben Henry (knee, round 10), Kevin Locke (knee, indefinite)
Wests Tigers:
James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma, Keith Lulia, Tim Simona, Pat Richards, Braith Anasta, Luke Brooks, Aaron Woods, Robbie Farah, Keith Galloway, Cory Paterson, Bodene Thompson, Adam Blair. Interchange: Martin Taupau, Ava Seumanufagai, Sauaso Sue, James Gavet
Ins: Cory Paterson
Outs: Liam Fulton (concussion, indefinite)
Other unavailables: Chris Lawrence (hamstring, indefinite), Curtis Sironen (foot, mid-season), Dene Halatau (ankle, mid-season), Tim Moltzen (knee, indefinite)
News:
The one commodity you can’t substitute in rugby league, speed, has made James Tedesco the hottest property on the open market.
But eight months ago the Wests Tigers fullback feared he’d lost his trademark pace.
On a July Friday night at Leichhardt Oval last season, Tedesco’s legs were pumping but his heart was sinking.
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson had scooped up a Tigers kick on his own line and set off down the field like a shot out of a gun.
Tedesco, only two strides behind him over the first 10 metres, liked his chances of reining his man in.
The Tigers flyer had been back from his 2012 knee reconstruction for more than 15 weeks and felt comfortable to step on the gas.
But as he crossed the 40m line, then the halfway, with Johnson still a good two paces in front of him, it dawned on Tedesco that it was a one horse race.
It was a crushing realisation and as Johnson touched down for a try that would clinch the game for the Warriors, Tedesco questioned whether he’d ever regain his speed.
“He picked up the ball from his in-goal when I was chasing and I wasn’t getting close to him,” Tedesco recalls.
“I felt I wasn’t going at top speed. I felt like I couldn’t get there.
“And that’s not a feeling I was used to.”
Thankfully for Tigers fans and Tedesco, that feeling has gone, and the try-scoring sensation has returned.
Some extra matches for Italy at the rugby league World Cup and a full pre-season has ensured the Tedesco trademark is back in force.
If Johnson gets into the clear for the Warriors on Saturday in Wellington, expect the Tigers No.1 to be in hot pursuit.
Tedesco, who has a football field at his parents’ Menangle property for extra training, has worked hard to get back to being the NRL’s most in-form attacking weapon.
“After my knee injury I did feel like I lost a bit of speed there,” he said.
“Last year I was a bit down on confidence.
“But coming off the World Cup and after the Nines as well … I was playing with more confidence.
“I do a bit of stuff at home in the backyard, but Hayden Knowles is our sprint coach, so I’ve just been working on off-the-mark speed which was my main trademark when I was younger.
“I don’t know if it’s the quickest I’ve been. But I’m feeling quick.”