26 - 37 blows cruel NQ
The signs looked promisin ing early for a big Valentine H Holmes night when his elusiv sive footwork almost broke th through the Warriors defence.
But the tackle that brought hi his momentum down also ev eventually brought his night do down with it.
Holmes sustained an ankle in injury that, try as he might, he sim simply could not shake.
Stand-in skipper Jordan Mclean joined him in the casualty ward with a suspected calf injury.
Young gun Hamiso Tabuai-fidow showed he was more than pace, he has the skills to back up his growing reputation. While he was guilty of coming up off his line for the Warriors’ opening points, ‘The Hammer’ showed plenty of skill to float a cut-out ball for a Holmes try and create an overlap for Justin O’neill to cross early in the second half.
His cover defence in the opening 40 minutes also saved a try, while an obstruction call by the video ref was all that stood between him and his maiden four pointer.
Diminutive in stature, Kodi Nikorima stood tallest for the Warriors in a clinical display. A pinpoint kick early in the tackle count got New Zealand off to a flyer in just one of his try assists, while his running game tormented the Cowboys’ right side defence.
While Nikorima was energetic, Warriors halfback Blake Green calmly pulled the strings. His kicking game ground the Cowboys out of the contest, forcing repeat sets and he finished with three try assists.
Paul Green lamented his left edge’s inability to stop the Sharks. This week the Warriors were able to pry open the right edge. Peta Hiku crossed for a hat-trick, with winger Adam Pompey also getting on the scoreboard. The reshuffle to accommodate the loss of Holmes did not help their cause.