Milford's nervous wait as Wayne's biggest Dolphins test awaits ...
The Warriors have beaten the Dolphins 30-8 on the back of classy doubles to Shaun Johnson and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in their clash at Go Media Stadium.
Johnson ran for 65 metres to go with five tackle busts, two linebreaks, a linebreak assist and two tries, while Watene-Zelezniak had 183 metres, three tackle busts, a linebreak and a double of his own.
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Johnson produced his best game of the year to help the Warriors beat the Dolphins 30-8 on Saturday, but there could be some major fallout from the contest with several acts of foul play set to be investigated by the match review committee.
While Johnson starred with two tries, it was a different story for veteran five-eighth Anthony Milford who faces a nervous wait for the charges to drop after he was sent to the sin bin for a late shot on Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya.
The contact was very late and caused Montoya’s head to rock back which could see Milford miss the next few games.
There was plenty more drama with Dolphins prop Jarrod Wallace placed on report for a shoulder charge on Rocco Berry who was knocked out in the tackle as a result of a head clash.
Referee Grant Atkins was praised for how he handled the situation, but the experts weren’t as impressed when Dolphins centre Euan Aitken got away with what they thought was a hip-drop tackle on Dallin Watene-Zelezniak late in the first half.
The Warriors winger was in agony after his leg was trapped in the tackle, but the referee and Bunker had no issue with it and allowed play to continue, much to the chagrin of Cooper Cronk.
“I’m perplexed,” the Fox League analyst said.
“DWZ has got momentum and has gone through the tackle. Aitken has lost the tackle, turned around and lost his feet, and his weight has fallen on his ankle.
“From what we’ve been used to, that’s a sin bin.”
BIG HITS
MAGIC JOHNSON
The Warriors should offer Shaun Johnson whatever he wants to make sure the club legend doesn’t even contemplate retiring.
The experienced halfback was at his brilliant best in Auckland on a day where points were at a premium before the hosts kicked clear late.
It was fitting that Johnson opened the scoring with a trademark show and go when he spotted two big forwards close to the line, with that try taking his career tally to 1300 points.
He added another try in the second half and played a part in the sealer when some quick hands down the right put Watene-Zelezniak over untouched for the first of his two tries.
Johnson was easily the best player on the field, and there was a nice moment in the second half when halves partner Luke Metcalf scored as the hosts bounced back from last week’s disappointing defeat to the undermanned Broncos.
DEPTH TESTED
The Dolphins have defied the odds all season but they’re going to have to dig even deeper after their injury list worsened on a costly afternoon across the ditch.
They were already without Origin duo Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (rested) and Tom Gilbert (shoulder), and they suffered another massive setback before kick-off when star dummy-half Jeremy Marshall-King was ruled out with an AC joint complaint.
Things didn’t get any better with centre Brenko Lee limping off in the first half, while impressive back-rower Connelly Lemuelu clashed heads with Watene-Zelezniak and didn’t return.
Their depth will be tested if a couple of their players are charged, with discipline becoming a bit of a concern given they’re already without the suspended Felise Kaufusi.
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