Willie Poching: former Super League player and analyst on the Warriors facing off against the Penrith Panthers

The Warriors are set to face off against the Penrith Panthers in a home qualifying final next weekend.

This will be the fifth home final in the team's 30-year history, with the timing of the match yet to be confirmed.

Former Super League player and analyst Willie Poching joined Piney to discuss.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from Newstalk ZEDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
Warrior's opponent in the first round of the NRL playoffs
has been confirmed. They will play the Penrith Panthers in
an elimination final at go Media Stadium next weekend, just
repeating the day and time yet to be confirmed. There
are reports of a Sunday afternoon game to avoid clashing
with the All Blacks on Saturday night. Quite how often

(00:33):
and how strictly the NRL look at these sorts of things,
I guess is entirely over to them, but it'd be
nice to think that they could get a game on
the Sunday afternoon perhaps which has been reported in a
couple of outlets online, and avoid the All Blacks on
a Saturday night. Regardless, there's going to be a big,
big test for the Warriors as the four time defending

(00:54):
champion Penrith Panthers come to town. Former Warrior ow Skysport
Rugby League analyst Willy Poaching is with us. Willy, this
is a tough draw for the Warriors, there's no getting
away from it. But at the stage of the season,
I guess there are no easy games as we go
into the top eight in general terms, how do you
evaluate the Warriors' ability to beat the Panthers next weekend?

Speaker 3 (01:17):
Well, they have an ability, they and that's the thing
to start with. They have a chance to beat them.
And yeah, it's a tough proposition to go against the
reigning champions who are chasing five titles in a row.
But it's an exciting challenge at the same time. And
by the same time, it's a tough challenge for the
Panthers to come over here to or to take on

(01:38):
the Warriors in their background, who are desperate, who are hungry,
their backs against the wall. I just see the Warriors
come out with both gloves up, fighting all the way through?

Speaker 2 (01:48):
Are the Panthers a slightly less intimidating opponent than they
have been in the last few years.

Speaker 3 (01:56):
When you look at the troubles that they had at
the start of the season, and you know what that
comes through what they have of experience, And you can't
discount for any of that, specially at this time of year,
their experience that doing the right things and getting ready
at the right time. The coach gave them all the
rest a couple of weeks ago so they're freshened up

(02:17):
a little bit and they're focus, but I think they're probed.
I think it's a great opportunity for more Warriors to
turn things around next week.

Speaker 2 (02:24):
The Warriors coming to the finals off the back of
back to back defeats to the Eels and the Sea
Eagles to finish their regular season, well, how easily can
can that be put to one side and a clean
slate applied for the finals.

Speaker 3 (02:39):
I was thinking about this after the loss on the
weekend and now some of the stuff that was mentioned
by us on Sky but also by Kirk Cape, well
after the game. It's a new competition. Now the slate
is clean, and both teams come to it's do or die,
and the focus is just that when you're a player,

(03:00):
you turn up on Monday and knowing that okay, it's
all or nothing now. So they'll be a big focus
in training going into this week. Pro fession knows what's
needed at this time of year as much as the
opposition does. I think the guys will be ready and
pumped the things to fix up. Technically, it's the errors.
It's just the simple errors for them. It's the same

(03:22):
against paramatter and the same last week. So if they
can dignify that hold the ball, especially for a team
that's prided itself so much on completing high they're just
losing moments and opportunities to put the under put the
opposition under pressure. They can do that this week. Secure
the ball, control the ball, control.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
The game, elimination of eras. Is that coachable? Welly, can
you coach elimination of those of those errors?

Speaker 3 (03:51):
Yeah, you can, you can. And that's going to be
a focus by the coach and whether that's just mere
words but practice, and it's also an element of concentration
and personal pride. And some of it is fundamentals knocking
on at dummy half and simple catching of the ball
as James for Harris had and I'm not trying to
point him out, but just those little moments, you know,

(04:15):
just be focused. As I said, they'll turn up on
Monday ready switched on to go. That I'll go into
the game, whether that's Saturday or Sunday night, Sunday night,
I'll be perfect. Gives them another day to build up
and get themselves primed and ready to go.

Speaker 2 (04:29):
He mentioned James Fasher Harris. There are a couple of
times nine seasons and all that success at the Panthers
and here he is in his first season the Warriors
and he's facing the Panthers in his first knockout game
for his new club. How do you reckon he'd be
feeling pumped?

Speaker 3 (04:43):
Pump. He's a competitor, he's you know, he's the leader
of this group and he's thriving on it. Help me pumped?
Ready to go. As soon as he won that Grand
Final last week last year, his association with the Panthers
was done. He was all focused on the Warriors getting
ready to go. Yeah, he's he's going to be a
truly inspirational character in that dressing in sweet like he

(05:05):
has done all seasons.

Speaker 2 (05:06):
We saw Rockeyberry Golfinger the other night. Don't know any
any more about whether he'll be okay for this weekend.
He's had a rotten run with injuries. If the years out,
how big a blow is that for the Warriors.

Speaker 3 (05:18):
Yeah, it didn't look good, as you said, No official
word about what injury it is and how significant it is,
so now thing as a cross. But he is just Yeah,
he's had a tough time of it in twenty twenty five.
It started in twenty twenty four and the season got
plaid the start of it anyway, And yeah, he was

(05:39):
able to string three games together and then bang it
goes again. So yeah, he'll be hoping that this year
for him is just an anomaly. He gets a good
pre season under his gets strong and healthy and come back.
But he is a loss. He's a loss to that
side and whoever they chock in that position. And you know,
the good thing is a couple of players have had

(06:00):
a chance to be and that spot on the field
for the Warriors this season, so there won't be unfamiliar
to whoever he puts them there.

Speaker 2 (06:07):
And on the plus side, I think Jackson Ford's available
again after his suspension. So that's a boost, isn't it
having Jackson Ford back there?

Speaker 3 (06:14):
Oh? Massively? Yeah, it sounds like him and Jacob lab
and will we sit again, So a couple of extra
bodies for the coach to pick from. But Jackson Ford
or he's been great and then played some long minutes
and quality minutes for the Warriors. When he's been out
there again, he's had a moment to freshen up, get
himself ready and riding and fast and it's steady to

(06:36):
go for this week. He'll he'll have some punch through
that middle. James Fisher House.

Speaker 2 (06:41):
Yeah, well, we wait to see when and what time
this game will be. We know they're facing the Panthers.
Will find out when very soon. Will he always good
to get your analysis, mate.

Speaker 3 (06:48):
Thanks for joining us, Thanks mate, thanks for having us.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
No, thanks for joining us, Willy will he poaching there
part of the Sky Sport Rugby League team.

Speaker 1 (06:58):
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