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123 Jun 19 '19
West Coast coach Adam Simpson says his midfield brigade will need to stand tall in the stoppages if they are to beat Hawthorn in Friday nights AFL clash at Domain Stadium. Bismack Biyombo Jersey .The Eagles have copped 46-point hammerings in their past two matches against Hawthorn - including last years grand final.On both occasions, Hawthorns midfield got on top to give their side a sizeable advantage in the inside-50m count.The Hawks won that key stat 59-40 on grand final day, before recording a whopping 68-34 advantage when they beat the Eagles in round two.Simpson said his team cant afford to simply rely on ruckman Nic Naitanui to give them the edge in the midfield battle.Instead, hard work and scrapping for every possession is what Simpson wants to see.The past two or three times weve played Hawthorn theyve beaten us in that area, Simpson said of the stoppages battle.We know Nics important for us, and Scott Lycetts growing as a player.But I think we probably lowered our colours the past two or three times weve played them around the midfield and in the ruck battle.So thats a big challenge for us this week. But I think were good enough.West Coast boast a formidable forward line featuring Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy, mobile forward Jack Darling, and Mark LeCras.But Simpson said his side would struggle unless they gave their forwards enough supply.Ladder leaders Hawthorn could slip to as low as fourth if they lose to West Coast.The Eagles sit in sixth spot, but will need to beat Hawthorn and Adelaide in the final two rounds to have any chance of snaring a top-four berth.Simpson says Hawthorn are still the benchmark of the competition, and predicts Friday nights match will be played at a finals-like intensity.Naitanui was the hero last week when his goal in the dying seconds lifted West Coast to a one-point win over GWS.But Simpson is adamant the team havent been basking in the glow of that victory all week.We calmed down pretty quickly, Simpson said.By the time we got to the airport it was business as usual.It was a fantastic game - one for the ages for us, and our club. But weve moved on pretty quick.The Eagles were forced to make two changes this week.Tom Barrass (shin soreness) and Simon Tunbridge (suspended) were forced out, with Lewis Jetta and Jackson Nelson handed recalls.Hawthorn named an unchanged line-up from the team that beat North Melbourne by 39 points last week. Mario Hezonja Jersey .Y. - Jerome Samson scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the St. Penny Hardaway Jersey . Vancouver Whitecaps and Toronto FC failed to make the postseason while Montreal Impact fell at the first hurdle losing heavily to Houston Dynamo in the Eastern Conference Knockout Round. http://www.cheapmagicjerseyschina.com/ . It was the second consecutive win for the Pacers (2-5), who lost their first five preseason games. Jeff Teague led the Hawks (1-5) with 17 points and eight assists and Al Horford had 12 points and seven rebounds. Mike Scott scored 15 of his 17 points in the second half.Phil Clarke says Super League players have a chance to forge a career highlight when facing NRL sides this weekend... The Grand Final, Christmas Day and the World Club Challenge are the three big annual events that I look forward to most in my life - Ive relegated the kids birthdays and my wedding anniversary to Tier 2 occasions and just hope that none of my family ever read this.My introduction to the World Club Challenge was an unforgettable moment in my life. Going to Central Park in 1987 to watch Wigan play against the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in the first official World Club Challenge is my strongest memory as a teenager. For many players in Super League the chance to beat an NRL team is a once-in-a-lifetime event. Phil Clarke It was a game that featured some of the Wigan greats, including Shaun Edwards and current Wigan coach Shaun Wane, who was man of the match on the day as Wigan ran out 8-2 winners despite my nerves before the game.I can still remember the music that they played at half-time and get taken back to that moment whenever it comes on the radio, even today. Id seen hundreds of games of rugby league in my life but nothing to compare with this, it looked like another sport. It was as though somebody had pressed fast forward on the Sky+ control, it was that quick. From that night on I have always loved the event and was lucky enough to play in a few in the early 90s. For many players in Super League the chance to beat an NRL team is a once-in-a-lifetime event and I feel fortunate to have had the chance to do it.Ive also been privileged to sit in the commentary box for some momentous games over the last 15 years. Johnathan Thurston has ruled out a move to the Super League I remember a superhuman performance by Stuart Fielden when Bradford Bulls beat the Newcastle Knights in Huddersfield. I recall a snow--covered pitch in Bolton when Paul Sculthorpe inspired a St Helens comeback over the Brisbane Broncos, and I have a clear picture of a clinical and dominant performance by Michael Maguires South Sydney Rabbitohs at Langtree Park 12 months ago. Wholesale Magic Jerseys. Weve been treated to some classics clashes between the two hemispheres over the years, but what will they deliver this year? Its hard to say much about the NRL teams since this will be the first run out for most of them, but history shows us that their players, coaches and assistants tend to make a big effort to impress.Several of them will end up over here in the future, some in the near future. This series is a sort of unofficial job interview for them as they get a small window to show what they can do. South Sydney Rabbitohs celebrate after beating St Helens in 2015 It will also be a chance for the rest of Super League to look on and see if the NRL teams have developed any new way of attacking or defending. The game slowly evolves and most new developments tend to come from down under.Obviously the home teams have several advantages, but from the way that they played last weekend they may need them. I cant tell you what was in the minds of the St Helens, Wigan and Leeds players last week but I do suspect that they were all subconsciously distracted by the fact that they will face the best of the NRL this weekend.Its tough not to be distracted by it. They will have seen adverts around their ground, heard the office staff talking about publicising it and taken part in sessions with the coaches in which their antipodean opponents have been mentioned. The strength and conditioning staff may even have talked about peaking for this one-off challenge and it is a big thing to them and their club. For those who do not get to play internationally this could be the biggest game of their career. A win would make it the highlight.Last week must have felt like a dress rehearsal and one that didnt go that well, but I think that they will all look like different men this weekend. Two of the three games in 2015 were brilliant contests, and the third was a masterclass from Souths.I think that we will see at least one win for the Super League teams this year, and hope that it is two, but truth be told I have the same nerves that I had back in 87 - lets hope these nerves are also unfounded.Watch the World Club Challenge live on Sky Sports, starting with St Helens v Sydney Roosters on Friday night from 7.30pm. Can the Super League teams win the series? Let us know your thoughts by commenting below if viewing on skysports.com or Tweet us @SkySportsRL Also See: Thurston rules out Super League move Six NRL players to watch Robinson: Series worth the risk Eden to make Broncos bow ' ' ' 
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