KEY POINTS:
If anyone could devise a plan to beat the Sydney Roosters tonight, it might be their former assistant coach turned Warriors mentor Ivan Cleary, who had 81 games for the Eastern Suburbs club between 1996 and 1999.
The man who used to prepare the team physically, trainer Craig Walker, now prepares the Warriors.
Right wing Aidan Kirk and bench man Grant Rovelli grew through the Roosters system before shifting across the Tasman.
The team will know what to expect tonight. It is a matter of turning up with the right mental approach and a hard-nut attitude that says they will not allow the visitors to dominate the early exchanges, the ground-gain throughout the game or give their kickers time to engineer their aerial assault.
The only other question marks hanging over the Warriors are: Did they play their grand final in Melbourne last Sunday? How will they cope with a turnaround two days shorter than that of the Roosters who played last Friday?
They have advantage in the full-house sign being out: the bulk of the 26,000-odd there tonight are sure to ride the officials regarding the 10 metres they keep, offsides, forward passes and any foul play from the Sydneysiders. Home teams have won 24 of 36 finals games played in the McIntyre system.
They also have the knowledge that the table-topping Sharks, Broncos and Storm came to Mt Smart and mustered just four tries between them. Defence wins games and that's what will win this one; both teams enjoy using the ball and so tries will be a given.
The Warriors need to reproduce the on-line scramble that repeatedly held up Storm attackers and allowed the champions just two touchdowns last Sunday.
The Roosters' defence was leaky against the Broncos last weekend, especially in the second half, 57 missed tackles. Any team that misses so many will lose. The Warriors go in with a team unchanged for three games.
The Roosters' Kiwi centre, Setaimata Sa, passed a fitness test yesterday.
If you have a ticket, make a point of getting there early to encourage the Junior Warriors to get over Penrith, who have beaten them twice this season. The standard of football produced by all teams in the new Toyota Cup under-20s competition has been nothing short of brilliant. They are more likely to throw the ball around than the top graders, who tend to be more regimented by NRL requirements.
Fullback Kevin Locke's 70 per cent kicking record is the best in the Toyota Cup and may be the difference.
THE FACTS
*The Roosters have scored 40 per cent of their tries, 38 in total, from kicks, the highest of any NRL side.
*They make an average 29 metres per kick, kicking 476 times for 13,995m
*Completion rate 659/952 or 69 per cent.
*Missed tackles 828, average 33 per game
*The Warriors have scored 24 tries down the left side. Left wing Manu Vatuvei is top try-scorer with 15, left centre Jerome Ropati second-best on nine.
*Gain from 475 kicks was 12,021 metres or 25 metres per kick.
*Completion rate 674 of 927, average 73 per cent.
*Missed tackles 737, average 29 per game.
*Last game Roosters won 38-12 Mt Smart Round 11
*2007 31-all Sydney Football Stadium
*2006 Warriors 42-16 Mt Smart, Warriors 22-12 SFS
*Only previous finals game the grandfinal 2002, Roosters won 30-8.
*All-up record 21 games, 10 wins each and the 31-all draw.
*Sportsbet Australia Warriors A$1.63 Roosters A$2.30, TAB NZ Warriors $1.47, Roosters $2.50
Warriors
Lance Hohaia, Aiden Kirk, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki, Ian Henderson, Steve Price (capt), Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Grant Rovelli, Evarn Tuimavave, Sam Rapira, Logan Swann
Roosters
Anthony Minichiello, Brent Grose, Setaimata Sa, Sia Soliola, Sam Perrett, Braith Anasta (capt), Mitchell Pearce, Mark O'Meley, James Aubusson, Lopini Paea, Nate Myles, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon. Interchange: Mickey Paea, David Shillington, Anthony Cherrington, Mitchell Aubusson.
Referee: Tony Archer
