Warriors' finals hopes kept alive with much-needed win over clunky ...
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The Warriors’ finals hopes are still alive after securing a much-needed 28-16 win over the Wests Tigers in front of a sold-out crowd at Go Media Stadium.
It looked like it was going to be an easy win for the Warriors, who cruised out to a 14-0 lead over an error-riddled Tigers outfit in the first half.
But two quick tries — one to milestone man Isaiah Papali’i, who returned from an ankle injury to play his 150th game — got the Tigers back into the game.
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It was Kurt Capewell who opened the scoring with the Queensland Origin representative cruising over untouched before some quick hands from 21-year-old centre Ali Leiataua set up Edward Kosi.
Leiataua, who has been tipped for big things in the NRL, then crossed for a try of his own five minutes later.
Chanel Harris-Tavita — who missed the first two conversions following a rough night on the boot last week — sported a big smile when he slotted his third attempt to send the Warriors into the halftime break with a comfortable lead.
The Tigers caught the Warriors napping early in the second half and were able to run in two tries. Papali’i crashed over first before Charlie Staines come up with an impressive finish in the corner.
But the momentum shifted once again into the Warriors’ favour. Addin Fonua-Blake scored a well-deserved try to cap off an enormous performance before Roger Tuivasa-Sheck turned back the clock as he beat four players in the lead-up to a Dallin Watene-Zelezniak try.
Inspirational Tigers skipper Api Koroisau scored on the buzzer but it was too little, too late.
DEPARTING WARRIOR’S BIG STATEMENT
Addin Fonua-Blake was at his devastating best on Friday night as his time as a Warrior begins to wind down.
Fonua-Blake will join the Sharks next season and told the media during the week that he’s “just trying to make every moment count from here on.”
And the 28-year-old certainly did make the most of all of the 68 minutes he spent on the field — particularly in the first half.
Fonua-Blake played the full first half, going into the break with 150 running metres, a linebreak, five tackle busts and 12 tackles – no misses.
“Every time he carries the ball it’s with such devastation,” legendary forward James Graham side on Fox League.
“He is dictating terms in the middle of the field with his footwork, his skill and his in behind the ruck carries off the back of some craft of Wayde Egan.
“Every time he carries the ball, the Tigers players can’t get him to the ground or he’ll spin to the ground, find a quick play the ball and away they go. He’s been phenomenal. A total domination from him in those 40 minutes.”
Fonua-Blake ran out to start the second half before getting a well-earned break in the 46th minute. He returned in the 64th minute and scored five minutes later.
The star prop finished with 207 running metres, seven tackle busts, an offload, two linebreaks and 21 tackles — no misses.
VINTAGE RTS LIGHTS UP NEW ZEALAND
Rugby league fans would’ve licked their lips when they saw Roger Tuivasa-Sheck named in the No.1 jersey this week.
With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki sidelined, Warriors coach Andrew Webster turned to the 2018 Dally M medallist, who didn’t disappoint.
Tuivasa-Sheck established himself as one of the best fullbacks in the game before exiting to pursue his rugby union game mid-2021.
He returned home to the Warriors ahead of this season and didn’t want to disrupt what the Warriors built last season with Nicoll-Klokstad at the back.
But he showed he still has what it takes in the No.1 jersey.
Tuivasa-Sheck finished with a game-high of 250 metres from 24 runs, eight tackle busts, a linebreak and made some big tackles including a potential trysaver on Jahream Bula in the final two minutes.
He lit up Go Media Stadium late in the game when he scooped up a Tigers grubber to make almost 50 metres and beat four players along the way.
Even rival coach Benji Marshall spoke glowingly of Tuivasa-Sheck post-game.
“He made four or five massive plays that no one makes... he put his body on the line and saved maybe three tries,” he said.
“We created opportunities and if it was anyone else they probably get scored so he was a big part of their win.”
Nicoll-Klokstad and Tuaupiki are pencilled in to return next week, leaving Webster with a healthy head ache at the business end of the season.
SAME OLD STORY FOR TIGERS
Benji Marshall has been harping on about errors and beating themselves all season and the Tigers once again only have themselves to blame for a loss that edges them closer to their third-straight wooden spoon.
Everything was going against the Tigers when they went into the sheds down 14-0 at half time. They only had 38 per cent of possession and only had six tackles in the Warriors’ 20-metre zone.
But that’s what happens when you complete at 69 per cent with Balmain legend Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach saying in commentary that the Tigers were lucky not to be down by more.
“If you make seven errors and miss 20 tackles, you don’t give yourself a chance. I think the scoreboard at the moment favours the Tigers after the first-half performance they had,” he said at halftime.
The Tigers clawed their way back into the game, managing to somewhat even out the possession and meet the Warriors at an 82 per cent completion rate but the damage was already done.
“We put ourselves under way too much pressure in the first half,” Koroisau told Sky Sports at full-time.
“As a leader myself, I made a few of those errors and it’s just not good enough... but I loved our resilience out there.”
Defensively, it was a tough night for the Tigers’ right edge. Charlie Staines made three tackles but missed six, while Starford To’a looked a little out of sorts in his third NRL appearance of the season.
To’a’s season has been marred by ankle and hamstring injuries but he was brought into the 17 for Adam Doueihi, who was rested. To’a came up with a poor read in each of the Warriors’ three first-half tries. And then his night took a cruel twist with the 24-year-old leaving the field in the second half after suffering yet another hamstring injury.
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TEAMS
Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leaitaua 4. Moala Graham-Taufa 5. Edward Kosi 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Te Maire Martin 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capwell 13. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Jackson Ford 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima. 18th man: 18. Tom Ale
Tigers: 1. Jahream Bula 2. Luke Laulilii 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Starford To’a 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 9. Apisai Koroisau 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 14. Tallyn Da Silva 10. Fonua Pole 11. Reuben Porter 12. Samuela Fainu 17. Alex Twal 7. Latu Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i 15. Alex Seyfarth 16. Sione Fainu. 18th man: 18. Heath Mason