NRL: Matulino urges home pack to muscle up

Ben Matulino. Photo / Getty Images

Forward utility Ben Matulino says the Warriors pack is looking for an improved performance in tomorrow's match against Manly, after they were outmuscled at different stages in last weekend's loss to the Brisbane Broncos.

"They [Brisbane] gave it to us in the middle and guys were shooting out of the line and we're expecting that from Manly as well," Matulino explained. "We've done some video on them and they do some similar stuff to us, like what we do to other teams, in terms of holding them up and driving them back. We're expecting that as well but we're up for the challenge."

Tomorrow's clash is likely to give the best indication yet as to how far the Warriors have progressed under coach Andrew McFadden, and whether they are title contenders.

Matulino says the Manly forwards will be looking to put the seventh-ranked Warriors in their place.

"That's where all their tough boys are and whenever they play against the Roosters they ramp it up and I'm expecting the same kind of treatment this weekend. For us middle boys, if we don't match them we're going to be blown off the park," he said.

"They're obviously the benchmark of the comp pretty much every year, or thereabouts anyway, and they're just a tough team. Everyone knows what they bring to the table it's just whether or not teams match them or can match them for 80 minutes so that's our challenge this weekend."

McFadden was due to contact referees boss Tony Archer through the week, seeking clarity after the Warriors earned the ire of the match officials at Suncorp Stadium for taking too long in the tackle, despite winning the contact battle and driving the ball carrier back in dominant two and three-man tackles.

"I haven't chatted to Tony Archer for a while so I might give him a ring this week and just ask about those areas," he said.

Containing the Sea Eagles' dynamic halves pairing of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kiwis five-eighth Kieran Foran is always a priority for any opposing team, but McFadden believes the visitors possess strike-power across the park.

"That's certainly going to be a big focus of our attention, pressuring their halves, but there's obviously a lot of other people that we need to contend with, too. They have very dangerous outside backs and a very aggressive forward pack so it's going to take a really quality team performance this weekend to get the points."

McFadden was confident right-wing Ngani Laumape would slot back into the side comfortably in his first game after serving a three-match suspension after a dangerous throw on Josh McGuire in round 15.

"He has been training really hard over the last three weeks and he hasn't missed a beat off the field and really prepared his body great and I'm sure he'll go straight back in there and contribute."

Centre Konrad Hurrell has recovered from a head knock which forced him from the field against Brisbane, and has been given the all-clear to take his place in the side after passing concussion tests midweek.