Warriors tame threat of Tigers
The Warriors have warmed up for the NRL season with an impressive victory over Wests Tigers in Whangarei yesterday.
The Tigers scored two late tries but the Warriors dominated for much of the contest, wings Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu’a scoring doubles to cap off two powerful displays in the 26-16 win at Northland Events Centre.
Chanel Harris-Tavita may have given coach Stephen Kearney something to think about as his performance shaded fellow halves contender Adam Keighran.
But it was a collective effort from the Warriors in which all the key players stood up, particularly skipper Roger TuivasaSheck.
A minor hamstring injury robbed Northland-born Adam Blair the chance to play in front of his home crowd.
It was a precautionary move after the former Kiwis skipper pulled up with some tightness after Friday’s captain’s run, but he is expected to be fit for the season-opener.
Apart from Blair and Issac Luke, who is recovering from a shoulder injury, Kearney indicated the side he started with would be close to his first-choice lineup, with Keighran joining Blake Green in the halves and Nathaniel Roache named in the No 9 jersey.
The Warriors made a strong start. The forwards imposed themselves early, helped in large part by the strong work of Maumalo and Fusitu’a early in the tackle count.
Keighran was brought down a metre short after an Isaiah Papali’i offload. Moments later, a switch in play saw Tuivasa-Sheck find Tohu Harris, playing on the left edge, to put Maumalo in for the opener.
With Shaun Johnson long gone, much is expected of Tuivasa-Sheck on attack this season. And he was heavily involved in the opening quarter, producing a superb cut-out pass to send Fusitu’a over untouched on the right flank.
It wasn’t all perfect, though. The 2018 Dally M medal winner dropped a bomb which the Tigers capitalised on for their opening try.
Harris-Tavita came on for Keighran midway through the first half and it wasn’t long before he made an impact.
The 19-year-old took on the line and provided a nice ball to put Peta Hiku in space before Maumalo crashed over for his second.
Having controlled play well in the first 40 minutes, Green sat out the second half as Keighran returned to the fray.
A poor kick followed by a run of penalties put the Warriors’ defence under pressure. But they were up to the task.
And they quickly turned defence into attack, marching upfield before Roache and Jazz Tevaga combined with some deft passes to set up Fusitu’a, who flew over in the corner for the try of the match.
The Warriors continued to threaten, with Harris almost finishing off a Harris-Tavita grubber, while Maumalo was denied a hat-trick when the back-rower’s pass was ruled forward.
But the Tigers were eventually broken again as Hiku kicked through for Adam Pompey to seal the result.