Richie Barnett: Warriors aim to show size doesn't matter

Aaron Heremaia of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Opinion

They've ticked plenty of boxes already this season - now it's time for the Warriors to put on a performance at home.

Two away wins in a row is exceptional when you consider last year's disgraceful away form, but banking two points at home against the Panthers on Sunday is vital.

An excellent crowd of more than 19,000 turned out for the Manly match but the Warriors weren't on their game.

Victory over the Bulldogs will have kept expectations high, but a good performance is needed to keep the fans coming back.

Ivan Cleary's side will need to be right on their game if they are to match the Panthers.

It's strange to say it about a Warriors side but the team is quite small by NRL standards.

There's plenty of good workhorse-type players but, up front, the Warriors are dwarfed by the likes of the Panthers.

Tomorrow's match is the first real good test of how they will go against the big boys.

Petero Civoniceva, Tim Grant, Trent Waterhouse and Frank Pritchard are all big boys. The Panthers love to dominate the middle third of the pitch. Luke Lewis likes to turn the ball back on the inside and channel the attack right back up the middle.

That is a huge part of the Panthers' game. If the Warriors' line speed isn't up to scratch and they can't put those big boys on their backs, they will cause havoc.

The Panthers will really look to work over Aaron Heremaia in particular. The hooker has been a real bolt from the blue but if the Panthers can wear him down on defence they can negate his attack.

Pritchard has been a bit quiet so far, which is a bit of a worry for the Warriors. He will want a big performance home in New Zealand.

The Panthers have a heap of strikepower out wide. Centre Michael Jennings is an incredibly dangerous player and fullback Lachlan Coote is a talent. He put on 7kg over the off-season and is playing with real confidence.

If the Panthers make the ground up the middle those guys will thrive. The only way to stop them is to pressure the forwards up the middle.

Luke Walsh's kicking game means it will also be a busy day for the Warriors' back three. Last week Walsh produced a series of great kicks and the Roosters ending up coughing up vital ball.

The Panthers will also be boosted by the return of Travis Burns at five-eighth, which lets Lewis return to his favoured 13 jersey. Burns adds an extra ball-playing dimension.

But they do have weaknesses. So far they have mainly played in patches. Last week's victory over a flat Roosters side was the first time they have played close to 80 minutes.

The big plus for the Warriors is that players in key positions have been making a real impact. Wade McKinnon was excellent against the Bulldogs, while Maloney and Manu Vatuvei won the game for the side.

When it comes to size, the Warriors' biggest weapon is Ukuma Ta'ai. The Tongan back-rower looks seriously strong. He has been earmarked for big things, he just needs a bit of time to develop.

I have no doubt he can be an Ali Lauti'iti-type player. He's got the attributes.

Having Ta'ai changes everything. All of sudden the Warriors aren't so small. He usually comes on the right hand side, which could see him up against Pritchard - a match-up worth the price of admission alone.