Warriors roll Rabbitohs as Johnson runs riot in Perth
The Perth hoodoo is over and last year’s nine-match losing streak gone with it after the Warriors made a start to the NRL season few saw coming.
On the back of a starring role from Shaun Johnson, the Warriors beat South Sydney in a round one boilover at the new Perth Stadium – their first victory in 10 appearances in Western Australia.
With new five-eighth Blake Green directing the team around the park, Johnson carved up the Rabbitohs with his elusive running game as the Warriors ran in six tries to four.
Fresh from signing a new four year deal, skipper Roger TuivasaSheck was also brilliant both with and without the ball, while the team showed an all-round resilience in defence that was lacking for much of last year.
One win does not make a season and the Warriors will have to develop a habit of defying the odds if they are to break their playoff drought in 2018.
But coach Stephen Kearney, and the club’s long-suffering fans, could not have asked for a better start and they will take plenty of confidence into next week’s first home match against the Titans.
There were a combined six tries scored in a thrilling first half but it was the Warriors who took the control to lead 20-10 at the break.
An ill-disciplined start had Souths camped on their line early. And while they conceded a try to Cody Walker, it could have been a lot worse were it not for TuivasaSheck. The fullback pulled off two try-saving tackles in the opening 15 minutes, including a stunning show of strength to take Alex Johnston into touch when he seemed certain to score. There were still worrying signs as the big Rabbitohs pack marched through the middle. But having absorbed most of the pressure, two tries in the space of two minutes showed the Warriors had come to play.
After Isaiah Papali’i crossed from a Johnson midfield bomb, the halfback then combined with Tohu Harris in the following set to put David Fusitu’a over in the righthand corner. The Warriors continued to infringe at ruck – at one stage in the first half the penalty count was 7-1 against the Kiwi side. But the Warriors refused to drop their heads. Prop Sam Lisone scored his first NRL try in 64 appearances when the overturned the on-field obstruction.
The big question for the Warriors was always going to be how their fitness held up in the second half.
They maintained the momentum with two tries in the first 12 minutes to Ken Maumalo and Solomone, with Tuivasa-Sheck laying on the final pass on both occasions.
Walker scored a consolation try with two minutes to go but that couldn’t the Warriors’ special day.
(David Fusitu’a 2, Isaiah Papali’i, Sam Lisone, Ken Maumalo, Solomone Kata tries; Shaun Johnson 4 goals)
(Richie Kennar 2, Cody Walker 2 Reynolds goals). HT: 20-10 bunker call of
tries; Adam