Saturday has three NRL matches with the first game for Round 2 is between New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons with the opening kick to commence at 3:00pm. The game is to be played at Eden Park with the favourite for the match being New Zealand Warriors. View our NRL live scores, odds and results for the game between New Zealand Warriors and St George Illawarra Dragons.

WHERE AND WHEN: Eden Park, Saturday 15 March 2014, 3:00pm

Odds Comparison:

New Zealand Warriors	1.32	1.31	1.32	1.31	1.32	1.30
St George Illawarra Dragons	3.50	3.55	3.50	3.55	3.50	3.60

All odds are subject to change. Odds listed are correct at the time of the latest update.

Preview:

The Warriors failed to increase their poor first round record by falling to Parramatta 36 – 16 at Pirtek Stadium last week.

The Warriors were missing attacking fullback Kevin Lock but even allowing for his absence, asked very little of the Parramatta defence.

A controversial eight-point try just before the half-time break to left centre Carlos Tuimavave, meant the Warriors were still in touch at half time 14 – 12 despite playing catch-up for most of the first forty minutes.

A return to Eden Park will help the Warriors find some much needed enthusiasm for this week’s game but with a poor record against the Dragons who are coming off a win in week one, they’ll need to more than a home-ground advantage.
The Dragons faced off against the West Tigers in round 1 with both teams desperate to put an abysmal 2013 behind them.

The Tigers got the better of the Dragons early and led 12 – 0 after ten minutes but the new look Dragons side, driven by debutante halves pairing of Michael Witt and former Melbourne Storm five-eight Gareth Widdop, continued to improve as the game went on and they hit back with three first half tries of their own, heading into the break with their noses in front 20 – 18.
The momentum continued to build in the second half for the Dragons and three late tries in the final quarter of the match, meant they ran out comfortable victors 44 – 24.

It was the start to the season the Dragons would have hoped for and the class of Gareth Widdop is something Coach Steve Price can build a team around.
They’ll be keen to consolidate that effort with a win here but will have to man up stronger in defence, especially early in the game, as they face a wounded Warriors side that will be out to redeem themselves.

The Dragons have won the last five clashes between the two sides, even when struggling last year and the Warriors were a shot of making the finals; the Dragons were able to cause an upset.

Despite Witt missing this game through injury and being replaced by Sam William, off what we saw last week and their record against the Warriors, the start for the Dragons appears to be a generous one.

Teams:

New Zealand Warriors:

1. Sam Tomkins 2. Glen Fisiiahi 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Jerome Ropati 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Chad Townsend 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Sam Rapira 9. Nathan Friend 10. Ben Matulino 11. Jayson Bukuya 12. Simon Mannering 13. John Palavi 14. Jacob Lillyman 15. Suaia Matagi 16. Ben Henry 17. Feleti Mateo 20. Sione Lousi

St George Illawarra Dragons:

1. Adam Quinlan 2. Brett Morris 3. Dylan Farrell 4. Gerard Beale 5. Jason Nightingale 6. Gareth Widdop 7. Sam Williams 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Mitch Rein 10. Dan Hunt 11. Leeson Ah Mau 12. Ben Creagh 13. Trent Merrin 14. Bronson Harrison 15. Kyle Stanley 16. Joel Thompson 17. Michael Cooper

News:

Curse, voodoo, call it what you like, but the Warriors are adamant there’s a simple answer to ending their barren NRL run at Eden Park – put out their A game.

The Warriors host St George Illawarra on Saturday at a venue where they have lost each of their previous three matches.

But centre Jerome Ropati rules out any thoughts of outside influences being at play.

“I don’t believe there’s a curse there,” he said.

“I just believe we haven’t played well enough to win there. If we can do that this week, stick to the game plan, take it up a level on defence, then we’ve got a chance.”

The Warriors have appeared once at Eden Park in each of their previous three seasons. This year, they will play three times there.

Having been a Warrior since 2003, Ropati says Mt Smart will always feel most like home for him, but he likes Eden Park and the atmosphere there.

Coach Matthew Elliott has plenty of belief that the streak can be snapped against the Dragons.

He says he has a lot of faith in his squad, despite their disappointing 36-16 defeat to Parramatta in round one.

“I know if we play our best footy, it doesn’t matter where we play or what voodoos exist,” he said.

“I like Eden Park. It’s got great facilities and it’s a place I’m looking forward to going to.”

It’s not just the Warriors who have struck out at what is a fortress for the All Blacks.

The Kiwis have also lost their three Tests there, all against Australia and beginning with the 1988 World Cup final.

Second rower Ben Matulino, who has tasted defeat at the ground at NRL and Test level, says it’s not really an issue that players talk about.

Like Ropati, he says success will come from sticking to the game plan.