By PETER ROWE
The Frankie Goes to Hollywood 1984 hit ‘When Two Tribes Go to War’ could not be more apt this weekend when first plays second in a classic encounter, the game of the day for the Fuel to Go & Play Premiership Round 12.
The South Perth Lions will make the short 12 kilometre journey from their Karawara home at George Burnett Park to Webber Reserve where they will line up against the unbeaten Willagee Bears.
It is the clash of the round with both coaches believing they can win.
The Bears sit atop the ladder two points clear of the Lions – the only team to beat them this season, 40-18 way back in Round 3.
“I believe we can win and so does our senior group of players,” Lions coach John Crawford said.
“It’s the biggest game of the season. For a few weeks I think lots of people have been working up to this,” Bears coach Nelson Davis said. “Big expectations I’m sure from both sides.
“We’re excited – and we’ll be playing in an Indigenous jersey to note NAIDOC Week. It’s going to be tough, but we will stick to our mantra that has got us where we are – we take one game at a time.”
The Bears will welcome back skipper Kainoa Gudjeon, but will be without exciting young fullback Izzy Lolohea and influential hooker Kobe Aeisi faces a late fitness test, but according to Davis is “looking good.”
The Lions also welcome back some heavyweights in Mason Hiko and Corbyn Daniels.
Ben-Wells Talamaivao is set to return but brother Luke will miss out through injury, as will Travis Haney and Mathius Tumuli-Ah-Kuoi.
“Mathius is big loss for us as he’s been arguably our best this season,” Crawford said.
“But we have a core of senior players who have stepped up to lead the younger guys. Greeny (Daniel Green) and Jimmy (Elliott) are two and Kade McDonald is an x-factor who produced a moment of magic to win us the game last week.
“And I am very proud of our resilience when under the pump or when down on numbers through injury. They have given their all.”
The winning mentality is something both teams have in abundance – but something has to give for a winner to emerge from this battle royale.
“We just have to do all the basics right, because South Perth are capable of winning this game,” Davis added.
“Complete our sets, handle the ball well and play some smart football and I’m confident we will be fine.”
For Crawford it’s a similar process. “It’s about belief,” he said. “It’s a huge game and of course we can win.”
A few kilometres away third place Fremantle Roosters host the North Beach Sea Eagles in an important game for both clubs – the Noel Williams Cup.
Williams played for both clubs and is highly respected by both. “He’s a legend,” Sea Eagles assistant coach Brian Burns said.
“He means so much to both teams and that is why this game is so special.”
Both sides have had mixed seasons but the Roosters sit in third spot and will want to cement that place with a win over their opponents.
“We’ve had quite a few injuries of late, but we got a good win at Rockingham last week, so I want us to continue that form,” player-coach Duane Butler said.
Butler will miss the game through injury, but has a selection headache this weekend with several players set to return.
Centre Joe Pouhila is back as is winger Manson Carmody and there’s a possibility Ryan Woolley might be in the 17 after recovering from a hamstring injury.
“He’s a possible, but I don’t want to bring him back too soon,” Butler added.
“He’s a great strike player and very good in defence, so we will see.”
Forward Jules Wilson-Wyllie is away working, but backrower Brandon White and big prop Fortez Williams are likely to figure.
And Ezra Taomia will continue at lock after a superb show last week.
Burns has confirmed there will be a few ins and few outs for his side, but after the bye last weekend said his team was well rested and ready for the game.
“We know what Fremantle bring to a game so we have to match them,” he said.
“We never take any game lightly and this one will be no different. It will be tough but if we can play a full 80 minutes then we have a chance.”
Fullback Te Ra Ahuri returns and Burns wants his side to put in a performance Williams would be proud of.
“And for our supporters,” he added. “We believe in our group of players. We have to be patient with our youngsters, we are driving the standards and they are listening.”
Kalamunda stay at home after their loss to Ellenbrook at Hartfield Park last week as they host the Rockingham Sharks. And both coaches are looking for a win to stay in the race for a playoff spot.
“We should have won last week, but we didn’t,” Dogs coach Duane Gwiazdzinski said.
“So it’s important we do this week. Too many errors last week cost us, but we are a new team in the competition and we still have growing pains.”
Although the Dogs won a game of two halves when the two sides met in Round 3 Gwiazdzinski is keen to avoid that type of game this time around, preferring to be in control from the start.
“We have a few youngsters – 18 years old – so it is taking time and we have to persevere with what we are trying to instil in them,” Gwiazdzinski said.
“Rockingham always fight – they will be strong no matter who they put on the field. It’s going to be tough.”
Sharks coach Reece Potter has similar growing pains with his young side – and a few injuries to cope with.
“We have had to rely perhaps a little too much on our youngsters because of injuries and I want to protect them a bit,” Potter said.
But the next three games are important to us as they could still give us a chance of finals.”
Jayden Cronin and Byron Tautaiaolefua will miss out through injury and five-eighth Dave Quinlin is away working, but hooker Jarrad Whitty is back.
With wet weather forecast Potter is looking at all his options. “I have a plan for a dry track but might have to flip the script if it’s wet,” he joked.
Ellenbrook are the form team currently sitting in fourth spot but are not taking the visit of the Kwinana Titans lightly.
“There is no easy game this year,” Bunnies coach Dan Manning said.
“They beat us at their place 32-10 in Round 3, so we have to play to our best if we want to take the points.”
Manning has a couple changes to make due to work commitments but otherwise will have a relatively stable 17 to choose from.
“That’s a good feeling,” Manning conceded. “In previous weeks we’ve had six or seven changes and that doesn’t help.
“If we can just play the Ellenbrook way, then I’m confident we can take the points.”
Kwinana player-coach Lewis Samuels saw lots of positives last week against Willagee, despite the loss and welcomes back Tyrell West and Josh Skinner for the game.
“We have a few back and it has strengthened our spine,” Samuels said.
“Ellenbrook have big middles so we will have to match them there – we’re strong as well, we know it will be physical, it always is against the Rabbitohs, but we will be ready.”