Warriors let chances slip again in Perth

There’s no ray of sunshine after the Warriors eighth loss in a a rainy Perth, reports Liam Napier

On a miserable night in Perth, the Warriors’ miserable record in Western Australia continued.

In the end Manly Sea Eagles star Daly Cherry-Evans broke the Warriors hearts with a golden point extra time field goal to steal a 15-14 win and confine Andrew McFadden’s men to their eighth straight loss in Perth.

The Warriors have also now lost 11 of their last 12 against Manly. This was the Warriors second loss of the season in golden point, coming on the back of the recent one against the league-leading Sharks.

Aside from the opening quarter, the Warriors were all over the Sea Eagles as heavy rain fell but they couldn’t finish the job. McFadden will ask himself how this one got away - and there will be questions asked about why Tuimoala Lolohea went unsighted from the bench in regular time.

Down by two points in the closing stages, time and time again Shaun Johnson rolled the ball in behind the Sea Eagles to pepper their left side defence and keep knocking on the door.

Spurred on by the pro-Kiwi crowd who chanted "Warriors, Warriors" in dying stages the visitors refused to give in.

But they couldn’t come up with the telling blow. The Warriors had plenty of chances. Issac Luke missed a penalty attempt that would’ve levelled the scores at 14-14 with 20 minutes to play, but made amends with a successful nudge six minutes from time to do just that.

Prior to that, Solomone Kata dropped the pill over the line after a favourable bounce from an expertly-placed Thomas Leuluai grubber.

Manu Vatuvei, who endured a forgettable return after a month out with injury, was bundled into touch in the final 10 minutes.

And, in the most bizarre moment, big Sam Lisone had a shocker of a field goal attempt, coming up with an air swing. Jazz Tevaga dropped the ball in the play the ball, giving Cherry-Evans one chance to finish that match in regular time but his field goal never got off the ground and so they went to golden point.

Johnson had the first snap in extra time but his kick was charged - and CherryEvans then nailed his second chance.

Manly exploded out of the blocks with two tries. Fullback Tom Trbojevic skipped through a soft Blake Ashford tackle and past opposite David Fusitua to open the scoring, and Jorge Taufua profited out wide not long after to establish an early 12-0 lead.

The Warriors initially struggled to control the ball in difficult conditions.

Fusitua dropped a high ball and Vatuvei made a mistake in play the ball and a second from a kickoff.

The first quarter was all Manly. They set up camp inside the Warriors half, with Cherry-Evans pulling the strings and forcing repeat sets from his pin-point kicking game. Jamie Lyon’s influence wasn’t far behind, either.

Johnson touched the ball twice in the first 20 minutes, such was his side’s lack of completions. But the star halfback then burst to life to showcase his ball playing ability and lay on a brace for rookie Bunty Afoa.

Afoa’s first was pretty much a clear run to the line, but his second required plenty of work to get to there, and then get the ball down.

Give Johnson time and space and he will make you pay. Afoa, in his second NRL match, deserves credit for running sharp lines and backing his strength to power over.

After the early recovered well.

Earlier in the year they would’ve folded after leaking two tries but, this time, they regrouped.

Their scrambling defence made telling spot tackles on both sides of the field and they dominated the second half.

But they again leave Perth empty handed. Tom Trbojevic, Jorge Taufua tries, Jamie Lyon pen, Daly Cherry-Evans field goal Bunty Afoa 2 tries, Issac Luke con 14-12

con,

HT: setbacks the Warriors

2, pen