TuivasaSheck outplays Duffy as Warriors slay Dragons
SYDNEY: Roger TuivasaSheck delivered on his mission to outplay opposite number Matt Dufty, scoring the matchwinner in the Warriors’ 2014 win over St George Illawarra yesterday.
Bound for rugby union at the end of the season, TuivasaSheck sent another reminder of what the Warriors will miss in his 100th game for the club.
Down 1412 with 13 minutes to play, the Warriors No 1 stood up as he regularly does to step through Jack Bird and Corey Norman to give the Warriors the lead. He also finished with 236m and seven tackle busts for his troubles, on a day when both sides scored three tries but the fullback was the difference.
And did it all after hearing pregame claims from Dufty that he wanted to be the best man on the field, desperate to rise to the challenge against TuivasaSheck.
‘‘I heard someone say something about that,’’ TuivasaSheck said.
‘‘But you have to leave your actions on the field, and hopefully we’ll see how everyone else sees it.
‘‘It does [fire you up]. Most weeks I go on a personal challenge against the opposition and whoever is playing No 1.
‘‘Dufty has been on form and he is doing really well. It was another personal challenge for me to go out there and try and beat my opposition.’’
Sunday’s try was TuivasaSheck’s second matchwinning effort, after pulling off a lastminute trysaver on Jordan Rapana against Canberra in round two.
‘‘It’s something I have been working on, just having quality in my touches,’’ TuivasaSheck said.
Dufty, in comparison, had a rollercoaster afternoon.
He fumbled a Kodi Nikorima kick in goal to let the Warriors in for a firsthalf try to Paul Turner, allowing the Aucklandbased side to take a 128 lead to the break.
The Dragons fullback then produced a sensational effort of his own to give the Saints a 1412 lead with 20 minutes to play, chasing down an Adam Clune grubber that looked sure to go dead.
But he followed it up with a crucial error to gift the Warriors good ball, moments before TuivasaSheck scored the matchwinner and followed it up with a late penalty goal.
The Warriors lost Adam Pompey to a knee injury and Peta Hiku a dislocated shoulder, while Tohu Harris recovered from a head knock after scoring the Warriors’ first and being one of their best. — AAP