The Parramatta Eels take on the New Zealand Warriors at ANZ Stadium this Friday (2 June 2017) in Round 13 of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
After a victory last week against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Blue & Gold prop Siosaia Vave knows this week’s clash against the Warriors is vital.
“We have to take it week by week at this time of the season. The next couple of weeks are a big block for us, around Origin.” Vave said.
“It’s really important for us to get the next three or four wins and cement ourselves up in that top eight.”
And the prop knows that the Warriors, despite their 5-7 start to the season, will be very dangerous.
“The Warriors are good, I think they are first in completions. That will be really tough for us. Any team that completes that well will be a hard game in the office, especially when you have big boppers like Jimmy Gavet, Sam Lisone and Jacob Lillyman,” Vave said.
“People say rocks and diamonds, but I think they have been really good. It’s just crucial times and crucial moments that they have really let themselves down.”
“At the end of the day, I rate them as a team. They have a team with the one, six and nine of the New Zealand spine so they will go well. And I am wishing them luck, just not this weekend,” he added.
Get tickets to the Eels v Warriors clash!
The Eels welcomed new recruit Mitch Moses to their side a fortnight ago, a timely addition to their squad with Norman being injured, and Vave had nothing but positives for the new half.
“It’s good having Mitch here. He is a footballer and has slotted right in with Normy being out, and his kicking game is second to none, so it’s good to have him there,” Vave said of Moses.
“He is a class player, and only 22, so he is still a kid. I have been around so seeing a bloke with his talents is pretty exciting for us, especially with Normy on the way back on the mend. He can transform us, he is a game breaker.”
“They are both good players, with Corey being a bit more off the cuff and Mitch has a good kicking game. They will both complement each other” he added.
“They are both class players and both here to do a job.”
And when Norman returns, Vave knows it will cause plenty of selection headaches in a talent filled Eels backline.
“I think Gutho will be playing five-eight the way he has been going!” Vave joked.
“It is up to the coach. He is a class player, the hardest worker here at Parramatta. He will always be a number one pick because of how hard he trains and how hard he plays.”
“He kicks, he chases everything, he runs on everything, if you watch him on the training paddock, nobody has a better work ethic than Clint.”
“Some of the boys are saying we will have to warm up that Wentworthville jumper for him [Norman]!” Vave added.
“It’s a bit of banter around the boys. They will obviously have a couple of selection headaches in a couple of weeks, but we will take it for what it is.”
The Eels clash against the Warriors at ANZ Stadium on Friday 2 June in Round 13 of the NRL Telstra Premiership, kick off at 7:50pm. Click through to purchase tickets to the clash.
