Rugby League: Matulino hopes for memorable victory

Warriors prop Ben Matulino is preparing for a tough game against the Cowboys forward pack at Townsville tomorrow.Picture / Getty Images

Warriors prop will also be hoping that on this occasion he will be able to recall it

Warriors forward Warriors prop Ben Matulino can't remember last year's win in Townsville but he's hoping they can repeat the effort when they meet the Cowboys in North Queensland tomorrow night.

The towering front-rower was knocked out during last year's round three encounter and has no memory of the Warriors' rare upset victory on the Cowboys' home patch.

"I can't remember that game. I got knocked out in the first 10 minutes and didn't come back on," Matulino said.

"I know we're the only team that beat them at home so, hopefully, we can do it again this weekend."

The Warriors head off on one of the NRL's toughest road trips knowing they face a formidable task in halting the in-form Cowboys, who have won their last three games in a row.

The turn-around in fortunes is remarkable given that their season looked lost after they began their campaign with three straight defeats.

While captain and halfback Johnathan Thurston has been in sparkling form it is the work of the North Queensland forward pack, particularly prop Matt Scott, that has Matulino on edge.

"They've turned their whole season around and we've got a tough task for us forwards," he said. "If we've got any chance of winning this game it's probably won in the middle.

"They've got a lot of internationals and guys that could probably play internationals as well that haven't. They've also got Ben Hannant coming off the bench and Matt Scott is their pack leader. We've just got to stop him if we've got any chance of winning."

The Warriors pack has been impressive in their own right, with Matulino leading the way for the big men with a whopping 972 running metres to his name from 88 hit-ups.

He trails only winger Manu Vatuvei, whose value on kick-returns and contribution in the middle of the park is underlined by his 982m, while back-rower Ryan Hoffman is the next best forward with 838m from 94 carries.

The Warriors have little trouble getting a roll-on and Matulino notes the new tackle-release laws have seen an increase in the speed of the ruck.

"I'm just glad I got a preseason under my belt," he said.

"It's a lot faster now so if I didn't do that preseason I probably wouldn't be playing as many minutes or be left on the ground all the time.

"It is a lot faster and it's a lot more challenging but Cappy's [coach Andrew McFadden] got us ready for that."

The flip-side is that teams are increasingly prepared to concede penalties when they are getting beaten in the ruck or defending their line.

At a time when match officials are coming under fire for neglecting to use the sin bin or send off, the Warriors contacted referee's boss Tony Archer this week, after Tigers prop Adam Woods' numerous transgressions went unpunished during last Saturday's clash at Mt Smart Stadium.

"I've spoken to Tony Archer about how it feels like it's [the game] just slowing down again and the wrestle is starting to creep back in. So I'd like to think we want to keep it faster," McFadden said.

Every side finds themselves back-tracking in defence at some point in a match and Matulino says the Warriors need to be on guard with Cowboys hooker Jake Granville prowling for opportunities.

"I think most teams go in patches where they get dominated. As soon as there's a quick play the ball the hookers are always straight on it and every forward pack can be put on the back foot. It will be a tough job for us this weekend."