Willie MANU [
Player Stats]
+ Submit additional information or a correction to this player
Sat June 27, 2009
by Hull FC
Source: www.hullfc.comHull FC have named an unchanged squad for Sunday's trip to the Warrington Wolves.
Head Coach Richard Agar has opted for the same 19 players he selected for the 14-12 victory over the Salford City Reds last time out.
Richard Whiting was named as 18th man for that match but is being touted for a recall and could play some part against the Wolves.
Ewan Dowes and Paul King had both been slight doubts earlier in the week but have come through in time to play.
Dowes had been struggling with a calf strain, but trained during the latter part of the week, while King has over come a sore neck.
The Airlie Birds preparations this week were also hampered by a virus that swept through the camp.
A handful of the first-team squad and conditioner Ben Cooper went down with the illness, but all have made a speedy recovery and returned to training during the week to ready themselves for the weekend.
Richard Agar said, "A few blokes picked up a bug that has been going round which disrupted practice a little.
"If it had been a short turn around on a Friday we might have had to worry, but it's not, it is a Sunday game so it meant we could leave them in bed for a day, they have had their antibiotics and it's still given us a good few days ahead of the game."
Willie Manu and Graeme Horne were two players who managed to avoid the virus after returning from injury against Salford last week.
Manu said, "Training has been slow this week, missing some players, but everyone is back now and it has been good chance for us to push on.
"It has been great to be back in the side and back playing and hopefully I can find some of my best form as soon as I can. It was a shaky win over Salford last week, but a win is a win and we needed it."
He added, "It is time to kick on, if we start to win a few we give ourselves a fighting chance of progress in the eight and into the play-offs."
A generous following of Hull supporters are once again expected to make the long trip to Merseyside for the clash at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and Horne says their backing will help drive the team to a win.
"The supporters come week in week out, no matter what. Even after the run of defeats they are still there and it speaks for itself. They are brilliant and they deserve that little bit of success. We all know that and we are working as hard as we can to make sure we get there for them."
As for his own performances, he added, "I have gone all right, I am looking to kick on. I missed a few weeks out through injury and had plenty of things to improve on after, so I'll be looking to do that this week."
The Warrington Wolves come into the game on the back of a successful trip to Spain, not just because of the positive 24-10 win over the Catalans, but with a glowing advertisement for the game of rugby league.
Over 18,000 fans turned out to watch the one-off showcase at the Estadio Olympico Stadium, the home of football club Espanyol and of course Barcelona 92, which impressed Hull coach Agar,
"It was a big crowd, they were loud and vocal with fans from Catalans, Warrington and some of the locals too and it was great for the sport and you have to congratulate both sides for that."
The Wolves had a poor start to the season losing their first five matches, in stark contrast to Hull, who won their opening five exchanges.
However, since then, both sides form has wavered and they find themselves level on 16 points in the Super League table.
To be fair, Warrington have played themselves into a rich run of form of late with just one defeat in their last seven outings and much of that can be put down to the impact of new coach, and friend of Richard Agar, Tony Smith.
The England supremo took over at the Halliwell Jones Stadium following the dismal start to the season and has slowly transformed the side into a team that looks like a match for most in this year's competition.
Their squad boasts big names like Matt King, Michael Monaghan, Adrian Morley, Ben Westwood and Chris Hicks, the second leading try scorer in Super League this season.
As well as that, they also host former Hull player Gareth Carvell, who left the Black and Whites at the end of last season to join The Wolves squad which has impressed Agar.
"Up and down the line up they have recruited pretty well. They have a high calibre to pick from. Morley, Carvell and Wood take the team forward very well and they will be tough this weekend," he said.
One of those key players who does miss the match is Lee Briers. He sits out the match due to a hamstring injury, alongside Micky Higham who is also missing, and Agar feels Briers could be a big loss.
"I think he is the lynch-pin for them, he can make game changing decisions and it looks like he won't play this week, so it means some one else must stand up and be counted for them."
But as always, Agar stressed it's not what the opposition do, but the Airlie Birds own performances that will dictate whether they secure back-to-back wins once again this season and he feels they are not too far away.
"For us, we have to take the good parts from our game and turn it a win. We are playing a team that is level on points with us in the table, we are jockeying for position and the table is very tight. It's important game for us, so be great to get a win."
SQUADS
HULL FC: Berrigan, Broughton, Burnett, Dowes, Houghton, G Horne, R Horne, King, Lee, Manu, Moa, Radford, Raynor, Tony, Thackray, Tickle, Thorman, Whiting, Yeaman
WARRINGTON: Anderson, Anderson, Bridge, Carney, Carvell, Clarke, Cooper, Grix, Harrison, Hicks, Johnson, King, Mathers, Monaghan, Morley, Rauhihi, Riley, Westwood, Wood
HEAD 2 HEAD
HOME: played 13, won 7, drawn 0, lost 6, for 354, against 264
AWAY: played 13, won 5, drawn 0, lost 8, for 319, against 344
TOTAL: played 26, won 12, drawn 0, lost 14, for 673, against 608
LAST MEETING
SAT 16 MAY- KC Stadium, Att: 10,997
Hull FC 16-18 Warrington Wolves
LAST FIXTURES
Sat 20th June, Estadio Olympico, Att: 18,150
Catalans (10) 12
T: C Stacul, J Croker
G: T Bosc 2
Warrington (6) 24
T: C Bridge, M King, C Riley, J Clarke
G: C Hicks 4,
Fri 19th June, KC Stadium, Att: 11,218
Hull FC (12) 14
T:M Tony, G Raynor
G: D Tickle 3
Salford (6) 12
T: D Goulding, J Smith
G: J Wilshere 2
======================================================================================================
2010 engage English Super League
Hull FC
2 tries, 8 points.
======================================================================================================
2009 engage English Super League
Hull FC
22 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [13 Feb 09] W 18-10 v Wigan (H). [BE] [View] Round 2 [21 Feb 09] W 28-20 v Celtic (A). [BE] [View] Round 3 [27 Feb 09] W 28-12 v Les Catalans (H). [BE] [View] Round 4 [06 Mar 09] W 24-20 v Huddersfield (A). [SR] [View] Round 5 [15 Mar 09] W 36-24 v Bradford (A). [SR] [View] Round 6 [20 Mar 09] L 18-19 v Castleford (H). [SR] [View] Round 7 [28 Mar 09] L 12-22 v Harlequins (A). [SR] [View] Round 8 [10 Apr 09] L 14-18 v Hull KR (H). [SR] [View] Round 9 [13 Apr 09] L 22-44 v St Helens (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 10 [17 Apr 09] L 14-21 v Wakefield (H). [SR] [View] Round 11 [25 Apr 09] W 18-14 v Salford City (A). [SR] [View] Round 12 [03 May 09] W 24-16 v Castleford. [SR] [View] Round 17 [19 Jun 09] W 14-12 v Salford City (H). [SR] [View] Round 19 [04 Jul 09] L 30-43 v Leeds (H). [SR] [View] Round 20 [12 Jul 09] L 18-40 v Castleford (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 21 [17 Jul 09] W 22-6 v Celtic (H). [SR] [View] Round 22 [25 Jul 09] L 18-24 v Hull KR (A). [SR] [View] Round 23 [31 Jul 09] L 0-24 v Huddersfield (H). [SR] [View] Round 24 [15 Aug 09] L 6-18 v Les Catalans (A). [SR] [View] Round 25 [21 Aug 09] W 26-6 v Harlequins (H). [SR] [View] Round 26 [04 Sep 09] L 22-34 v Wigan (A). [SR] [View] Round 27 [11 Sep 09] L 18-21 v Bradford (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2008 World Cup
Tonga
3 games; [View] Pool C [27 Oct 08] W 22-20 v Ireland. [LK] [View] Pool C [31 Oct 08] L 12-20 v Samoa. [DH] [View] Ranking Games [08 Nov 08] W 48-0 v Scotland. [BE]
======================================================================================================
2008 engage English Super League
Hull FC
21 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 1 [08 Feb 08] L 20-32 v Warrington (A). [SR] [View] Round 2 [17 Feb 08] L 6-24 v Harlequins (H). [SR] [View] Round 3 [22 Feb 08] W 24-22 v Wigan (H). [SR] [View] Round 9 [29 Mar 08] D 28-28 v Les Catalans (A). [BE] [View] Round 10 [04 Apr 08] L 8-24 v Bradford (H). [SR] [View] Round 11 [11 Apr 08] W 32-12 v Castleford (A). [SR] [View] Round 12 [27 Apr 08] W 28-20 v Huddersfield (H). [LK] [View] Round 13 [04 May 08] L 17-22 v Hull KR. [SR] [View] Round 14 [18 May 08] L 26-34 v Harlequins (A). [SR] [View] Round 15 [25 May 08] L 8-16 v St Helens (H). [SR] [View] Round 16 [06 Jun 08] L 22-38 v Leeds (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 17 [15 Jun 08] W 40-14 v Castleford (H). [SR] [View] Round 18 [22 Jun 08] L 22-36 v Bradford (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 19 [29 Jun 08] L 22-24 v Warrington (H). [SR] [View] Round 20 [06 Jul 08] L 18-30 v Les Catalans (H). [SR] [View] Round 21 [12 Jul 08] W 26-18 v Wakefield (A). [SR] [View] Round 22 [20 Jul 08] W 44-18 v Hull KR (H). [SR] [View] Round 23 [01 Aug 08] L 6-66 v Wigan (A). [SR] [View] Round 24 [10 Aug 08] L 24-30 v Huddersfield (H). [SR] [View] Round 25 [17 Aug 08] L 14-42 v Bradford (A). [SR] [View] Round 26 [22 Aug 08] W 26-6 v Harlequins (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2007 engage English Super League
Hull FC
14 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Round 3 [25 Feb 07] L 24-25 v Warrington (A). [BE] [View] Round 4 [04 Mar 07] L 6-19 v Wakefield (H). [BE] [View] Round 5 [11 Mar 07] W 16-12 v Huddersfield (A). [BE] [View] Round 6 [17 Mar 07] W 24-12 v St Helens (H). [BE] [View] Round 7 [23 Mar 07] L 20-30 v Wigan (H). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 8 [06 Apr 07] L 28-30 v Harlequins (A). [SR] [View] Round 9 [09 Apr 07] W 22-14 v Hull KR (H). [SR] [View] Round 14 [20 May 07] W 16-12 v Leeds (H). [SR] [View] Round 17 [17 Jun 07] L 8-34 v Bradford (A). [SR] [View] Round 21 [21 Jul 07] W 34-18 v Les Catalans (A). [SR] [View] Round 23 [12 Aug 07] W 46-14 v Warrington (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 24 [17 Aug 07] W 42-24 v Wakefield (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Finals Week 1 [22 Sep 07] W 22-16 v Huddersfield (H). [SR] [View] Finals Week 2 [29 Sep 07] L 18-21 v Wigan (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2006 engage English Super League
Castleford Tigers
22 games; 8 tries, 32 points.
[View] Round 6 [19 Mar 06] W 38-18 v Wigan (H). [BE] [View] Round 7 [26 Mar 06] L 22-36 v Huddersfield (H). [BE] 8 Pts; 2t [View] Round 8 [08 Apr 06] L 14-51 v Les Catalans (A). [SR] [View] Round 9 [14 Apr 06] L 26-34 v Wakefield (A). [SR] [View] Round 10 [17 Apr 06] L 6-64 v Warrington (H). [SR] [View] Round 11 [21 Apr 06] L 6-42 v Leeds (A). [SR] [View] Round 12 [30 Apr 06] W 28-26 v Salford City (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 13 [05 May 06] W 30-24 v Wigan (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 14 [14 May 06] L 18-40 v Les Catalans (H). [SR] [View] Round 15 [28 May 06] L 28-46 v Warrington (A). [SR] [View] Round 16 [11 Jun 06] D 26-26 v Bradford (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 17 [18 Jun 06] W 32-14 v Huddersfield (H). [SR] [View] Round 18 [23 Jun 06] L 10-28 v Hull FC (A). [SR] [View] Round 19 [02 Jul 06] W 52-26 v Warrington (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 20 [08 Jul 06] L 16-24 v Harlequins (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 21 [16 Jul 06] W 31-30 v Leeds (H). [SR] [View] Round 22 [23 Jul 06] L 10-34 v Huddersfield (A). [BE] [View] Round 23 [05 Aug 06] L 0-18 v Wakefield (H). [SR] [View] Round 24 [13 Aug 06] L 4-72 v St Helens (H). [SR] [View] Round 25 [18 Aug 06] L 10-48 v Bradford (A). [SR] [View] Round 26 [02 Sep 06] W 27-12 v Harlequins (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 27 [08 Sep 06] L 16-26 v Salford City (A). [SR]
======================================================================================================
2005 NRL Telstra Premiership
St George Illawarra Dragons
14 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Mar 05] L 28-46 v Bulldogs (A). [BE] [View] Round 2 [19 Mar 05] L 12-46 v Storm (H). [SR] [View] Round 3 [26 Mar 05] L 8-18 v Panthers (A). [SR] [View] Round 4 [02 Apr 05] L 22-42 v Raiders (A). [BE] [View] Round 5 [09 Apr 05] W 32-6 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] [View] Round 7 [25 Apr 05] W 26-24 v Roosters (A). [BE] [View] Round 8 [01 May 05] W 40-32 v Tigers (A). [BE] [View] Round 9 [07 May 05] W 42-10 v Souths (H). [BE] [View] Round 10 [13 May 05] W 34-12 v Panthers (H). [BE] [View] Round 11 [21 May 05] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t (47th) [View] Round 12 [29 May 05] L 16-24 v Storm (A). [BE] [View] Round 14 [12 Jun 05] W 34-4 v Cowboys (H). [BE] [View] Round 15 [19 Jun 05] W 28-10 v Souths (A). [BE] [View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] L 24-32 v Tigers (H). [BE]
======================================================================================================
2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
South Sydney Rabbitohs
1 games; [View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] L 16-26 v Roosters (A). [BE]
======================================================================================================
|