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Warriors second-rower Simon Mannering is expecting a torrid time from Sonny Bill Williams and his Bulldogs forward pack when they roll into town on Sunday.
The Warriors look to keep their unbeaten home record in tact at Mt Smart Stadium against a Bulldogs side who come into the match on the back of a 12-40 hiding at the hands of former bad boy Willie Mason and his new Roosters team-mates.
Williams was a shining light in the Dogs' poor performance, which turned out to be a fizzer after a huge week of hype surrounded the return of Mason, Mark O'Meley and Braith Anasta to their old stomping ground.
Declaring that he had 'lost respect' for Mason in the wake of his off-season departure to the Roosters, Williams shone despite the failings of the rest of his side.
Having played with the larger-than-life star in a Kiwi jumper and witnessing his dominance over the last two seasons, Mannering knows how dangerous he can be and is at a loss to how the Warriors will set about containing him on Sunday.
"I don't think anyone knows how….he's definitely one of the key guys this weekend and if we want to have a chance of winning he'll be one of the guys we have to try and contain as much as we can," Mannering told Sportal.
"I don't know we're going to do it but we'll do our best."
The Auckland-born Bulldog loves returning to his place of birth and seems to thrive on the occasion. He scored twice in last year's 40-20 win and has never lost to the Warriors.
Although Williams will be the main threat, Mannering is expecting his team-mates to also have plenty of motivation this week after the embarrassment of copping a thrashing from their Sydney-side rivals.
It's a feeling the Warriors know well. They were widely criticised for their 6-52 loss to the Sea Eagles but bounced back six days later to overcome the Knights 26-20.
"They (the Bulldogs) had a big loss on Friday and we know what it feels like to have that happen to you. You always want to put in a strong performance the week after so they'll definitely be going out there to give it their all and make a good game of it," Mannering said.
"The Doggies have always had a very strong forward pack, they're big boys and that's one of their strengths so they'll be looking to utilise that on Sunday. That's not taking anything away from their backs; but we'll definitely have to contain their big guys to have a shot."
While the Dogs have a physically imposing pack that will look to take on the Warriors at their own game, Mannering thinks the new interchange rule - which has seen the number of substitutions stripped from 12 to 10 - will play right into the home side's hands.
Mannering, a supremely fit 80-minute man himself who has traded his centre role in for life in the engine room, feels the Warriors will have the fresher legs if the match goes down to the wire.
"I think last year when we had 12 interchanges our side didn't really have to use the 12," he said.
"Come the end of the game we were looking for a reason to use the interchange so it probably does play in our hands; we have a few fit guys and a side that can play 80 minutes."
The Warriors look to keep their unbeaten home record in tact at Mt Smart Stadium against a Bulldogs side who come into the match on the back of a 12-40 hiding at the hands of former bad boy Willie Mason and his new Roosters team-mates.
Williams was a shining light in the Dogs' poor performance, which turned out to be a fizzer after a huge week of hype surrounded the return of Mason, Mark O'Meley and Braith Anasta to their old stomping ground.
Declaring that he had 'lost respect' for Mason in the wake of his off-season departure to the Roosters, Williams shone despite the failings of the rest of his side.
Having played with the larger-than-life star in a Kiwi jumper and witnessing his dominance over the last two seasons, Mannering knows how dangerous he can be and is at a loss to how the Warriors will set about containing him on Sunday.
"I don't think anyone knows how….he's definitely one of the key guys this weekend and if we want to have a chance of winning he'll be one of the guys we have to try and contain as much as we can," Mannering told Sportal.
"I don't know we're going to do it but we'll do our best."
The Auckland-born Bulldog loves returning to his place of birth and seems to thrive on the occasion. He scored twice in last year's 40-20 win and has never lost to the Warriors.
Although Williams will be the main threat, Mannering is expecting his team-mates to also have plenty of motivation this week after the embarrassment of copping a thrashing from their Sydney-side rivals.
It's a feeling the Warriors know well. They were widely criticised for their 6-52 loss to the Sea Eagles but bounced back six days later to overcome the Knights 26-20.
"They (the Bulldogs) had a big loss on Friday and we know what it feels like to have that happen to you. You always want to put in a strong performance the week after so they'll definitely be going out there to give it their all and make a good game of it," Mannering said.
"The Doggies have always had a very strong forward pack, they're big boys and that's one of their strengths so they'll be looking to utilise that on Sunday. That's not taking anything away from their backs; but we'll definitely have to contain their big guys to have a shot."
While the Dogs have a physically imposing pack that will look to take on the Warriors at their own game, Mannering thinks the new interchange rule - which has seen the number of substitutions stripped from 12 to 10 - will play right into the home side's hands.
Mannering, a supremely fit 80-minute man himself who has traded his centre role in for life in the engine room, feels the Warriors will have the fresher legs if the match goes down to the wire.
"I think last year when we had 12 interchanges our side didn't really have to use the 12," he said.
"Come the end of the game we were looking for a reason to use the interchange so it probably does play in our hands; we have a few fit guys and a side that can play 80 minutes."
