NRL: Warriors' game plan - ignore the niggle

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves ... Roosters hard man. Photo / Getty Images

Battle against Roosters is a must-win if NZ team is to be a serious title contender.

The Warriors are determined to stand their ground against the Sydney Roosters' fiery forwards, but prop Jacob Lillyman says they won't be drawn into any one-on-one battles with hard man Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

The Warriors are viewing tomorrow's clash at Allianz Stadium as the biggest test of their season so far, and know they must match the Roosters' physicality and aggression to give their halves and outside backs room to shine.

Lillyman says they need to maintain focus to contain a dynamic Roosters forward rotation that also includes Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner, Aidan Guerra, Sam Moa and Sio Siua Taukeiaho, while avoiding any niggly one-on-one contests with the likes of Waerea-Hargreaves.

"We know what guys in their team like Jared are capable of, and we've got to meet that physical challenge head on," said Lillyman.

"There's no other way around it. You've got to rise to the occasion. They're physical throughout their pack and we've got to match that.

"But if you want to get involved with niggle and baiting players and that kind of thing, it can be to your detriment. That just takes away from the task at hand.

"We've got to get a certain level of dominance through the middle third of the field to let guys like Shaun [Johnson], Sam [Tomkins] and Chad [Townsend] work their magic, so that's the biggest focus for us as a middle unit."

The Roosters also have plenty of firepower out wide, through halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney and outside backs Michael Jennings, Blake Ferguson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, but Lillyman says it is essential the Warriors keep a close eye on co-captain and hooker Jake Friend.

"He's up there with the top few hookers in the game," he said. "He's next in line for that Queensland jersey when [Cameron] Smithy decides to hang up the boots. He is a threat around dummy-half close to the line so he'll be one to watch out for."

The 31-year-old Lillyman, with 201 NRL games under his belt is confident after playing a leading role for Queensland in last week's series-winning State of Origin decider.

After being restricted to a bit-part role in each of his previous 10 appearances in the Maroon jersey, Lillyman relished the chance to make his mark in the 52-6 win over the Blues.

"That was the most satisfying part of the game personally, that I was able to make a genuine contribution.

"With the side that Queensland has and the rotation through the first two games I only got limited minutes, so it was good to be left out there for a bit longer and be able to play my part in the win."

The Warriors have impressed, with three consecutive wins over the Gold Coast, Canberra and Melbourne pushing them into fourth spot on the NRL ladder.

But it will take a win over the 2013 premiers - the best defensive side in the competition - for them to win wide respect as serious title contenders.

"It's right up there [as the biggest match of the season]," said Lillyman of the challenge of facing the 2013 premiers at home.

"They're a great side and they have really hit their straps this season and playing some unreal footy.

"So this is a massive challenge for us and it's up to us with our season in the position it is, to get over there and rise to it and give us even more confidence heading into the back end."