NRL: Sea Eagles can't have flyer

Warriors centre Brent Tate has made good metres this season taking the ball out of dummy half. Photo / Getty Images

Asserting ascendancy in the first half, dominating the ruck and combating Manly's kicking game shape as the key objectives for the Warriors as they seek to win three regular season matches in a row for the first time since round 20 in 2008.

Curiously neither side has been behind at halftime this season. The Warriors have clung on to win two of their three matches.

The Sea Eagles have romped away (20-4, 14-0 and 24-6) but won only their last match.

So the Warriors will be preparing for an opening assault, something coach Ivan Cleary expects from his opposite Des Hasler.

It follows Manly punishing Newcastle last week with eight successive sets of possession midway through the first half, a statistic which helped produce three tries.

"Des has taken an inconsistent side and has made them one of the best in the competition in the last three seasons," Cleary says. "The first half is also one area we've been lacking. We've been too frantic, turning over too much possession and the points have flowed."

Ninth season veteran Lance Hohaia agrees Manly are superbly drilled: "They've lost some blokes to injuries [Brett Stewart, David Williams, George Rose and Chris Bailey] but defensively they are one of the best teams in the competition. They know what to do to win games. More importantly they know how to win away on other teams' terms."

That is certainly true for Mt Smart Stadium, where the Sea Eagles have won six of their eight appearances.

A key ploy for both sides has been their attack and defence around the ruck. Focusing on the middle of the park has enabled them to score five tries apiece after three rounds.

Manly has conceded two tries and the Warriors one in the same area.

Warriors centre Brent Tate has regularly been stepping into the dummy-half role as part of their plan to roll up the middle:

"As backs we've been keen to up the numbers there to give the forwards a break, especially in the hot conditions," Tate said.

"We also worked a lot in the off-season at passing the footy amongst the big, skilful guys in our team. It has been enabling them to run and get away good offloads, allowing us quicker guys to then get in there and dart away."

Hohaia says better fitness has led to increased speed and agility, letting the skills flow.

"It's an exciting brand of football. It's good for the fans and gives us confidence in our abilities, especially looking at the second half against the Broncos.

"We've got a lot of fast guys with good footwork. Taking it up the middle quickly is how we are going to win games."

Hohaia should know, as he's the side's longest-serving player. He pops up all over the field in different positions during his 80 minutes and Manly chief executive Graham Lowe described him this week as "one of the most under-rated footballers ever to play in New Zealand."

The Warriors also need to keep an eye on the Manly kicking game, based around halfback Trent Hodkinson.

They are getting plenty of distance and more accuracy than their hosts by finding space 63 per cent of the time, compared to the Warriors' 42 per cent.

That in turn is allowing the Sea Eagles to camp longer in opposition territory as tired forwards tramp further back for their hit-ups.

It also gives opponents less time to gather and counter-attack from the back, especially with the new rule where chasers can't move until the ball is kicked over their heads.

The Warriors forwards have to protect main kickers James Maloney and Hohaia to give them a better opportunity to gather their composure and put more kicks on target.

As an aside, the Warriors' emphatic win against Brisbane has influenced bookies to steadily reduce their odds as premiership contenders since the second round win over Cronulla.

Sportsbet has pushed them up three places from third-to-bottom A$41 no-hopers to A$34.