Ridge dig riles Ruben

Matthew Ridge doesn't attend Warriors training sessions any longer which is probably just as well for the former Kiwis fullback.

Ridge savaged 35-year-old Wiki in his Sunday newspaper column last week and if he'd chosen yesterday's open session to front up he might have put his health at risk.

Warriors captain Wiki, all rock-hard muscle and scars, doesn't do angry off the field, but is hurt by Ridge questioning his ability to match it with the NRL's young bucks.

"The fire's burning inside. I'm still burning mate, I get nerves before a game. The boys get in behind me when I cop a bit of stick - they get pretty pissed off,'' he told Fairfax Media.

Ironically, the veteran prop produced his best form in four games last Sunday with some inspired leadership, gaining 112 bruising metres and making 12 tackles in a tense 26-20 win over the Newcastle Knights.

With Steve Price sidelined, Wiki is critical to the Warriors; hopes against the Bulldogs this Sunday.

Halfback Grant Rovelli, who also copped a serve from Ridge over his form, said bagging Wiki was a mistake.

"It's a bit rough giving Rubes stick. I don't know what Ridge is on about but he's entitled to his opinion.''

Rovelli said critics are part of the job. "I've just concentrate on what I can control and that's getting out there and playing good footy and winning games.''

Wiki, in his last year with the Warriors, has a different approach in dealing with suggestions, openly backed by Ridge, that he is now well past his best.

"I go home to my family - they put a smile on my face. They're hard, they're my best critics. "I just want to repay the club. The young props are sharing the workload with the loss of big Steve [Price, hamstring injury]. All the young guys are stepping up and taking the heat off this 'OG' [Old Guy].

"They've got to point the finger at someone but that goes with the package when you are captain.

"Individually we had to get some respect back after the Manly game [lost 6-52]. Everyone had to focus on their jobs and my job was going forward and letting the other boys do their stuff.''

The traditional kava session last Monday soothed Wiki's body and mind and he is ready to confront the Sonny Bill Williams-led Bulldogs on Sunday at Mount Smart.

Wiki, who first laced on his boots in first grade with Canberra aged 20, needs just eight games to become 10th NRL player to reach 300 matches, but is more concerned with chaining the Dogs, who have won their last six against the Warriors and haven't lost at Mt Smart since 2003.

"The Dogs are going to be tough coming off a loss [beaten 40-12 by the Roosters].

They'll be looking for some closure this week and we will probably have to weather the storm for the first 20 minutes with Sonny Bill leading the charge no doubt,'' said Wiki.

"There's a lot of Kiwi boys in that team who'll want to impress in front of their families and the selectors. "Every time the Kiwi boys come over they grow another leg but we'll have the crowd behind us.''

The Warriors had a completion rate of 31 from 36 against the Knights, compared to just 14 from 30 against Manly, pleasing head coach Ivan Cleary.

"That was our best completion rate in three years in terms of percentages. Our attitude and effort were spot on,'' said Cleary, who had promoted experienced second-rower Logan Swann to help deal with Williams, with rookie Sonny Fai back on the bench.

The Bulldogs, who dealt to South Sydney and Wests Tigers before the Roosters caned them, are the top line-break side in the NRL with 27, but have often failed to convert that statistic into tries.

Star Kiwis back-rower Williams will come in for special attention from the Warriors, but they have plenty of strike power in fullback Luke Patten, centre Willie Tonga, Kiwis standoff Ben Roberts, and workaholic captain Andrew Ryan.

"Sonny's a key guy for them and is hard to contain,'' said Cleary. "The best thing to do is control what we do and not turn over possession easily and give them opportunities.

"They always play football and always have. They've got stuff that's really hard to stop and have dangers all over the field. You've just got to be on your toes and ready for anything.''

The match is pivotal for the two win-two loss Warriors, who have successive road games against North Queensland and Gold Coast Titans to follow.

WARRIORS: Lance Hohaia, Patrick Ah Van, Brent Tate, Ryan Shortland, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki (capt), Simon Mannering, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Ian Henderson, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Sonny Fai. BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Tim Winitana, Willie Tonga, Heka Nanai, Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Justin Tsoulos, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (capt), Lee Te Maari. Interchange: Chris Armit, Brad Morrin, Danny Williams, Brad Morrin, Michael Sullivan, (one to be omitted) TAB odds: Warriors $1.52; Bulldogs $2.40.

- © Fairfax NZ News