Trio injured as Warriors send Tigers packing
The Warriors have welcomed in a new era with a gritty win over the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart.
However, it may have come at a huge cost with hooker Issac Luke, who made a miraculous recovery from a knee injury to start the game, Shaun Johnson and Adam Blair all suffering what appeared to be significant injuries in the 26-4 victory.
All was going well until the 55th minute when Luke was forced off with a suspected dislocated shoulder, while Johnson and Blair limped off late with ankle issues.
Luke’s replacement Karl Lawton sealed the result with two tries in three minutes but the club faces a nervous wait as it contemplates life without the key trio ahead of next week’s home clash against the Roosters.
The Warriors overpowered an illdisciplined Tigers outfit, who had two players sent to the sin bin.
The five tries-to-one win was a good way to impress the new club bosses and lifts them back to the top of the table with the Dragons, who can take the outright lead with a win over Melbourne today.
Perhaps more importantly, it was the perfect response to the 50-point mauling dished out by the Storm on Anzac Day, assuring the 16,727 fans that turned up yesterday that they have not fallen back into bad habits.
Johnson was one of four firstchoice players returning to the side and slick hands from the halfback saw David Fusitu’a open the scoring with a trademark dive in the corner.
The Tigers couldn’t catch a break early as Chris Lawrence was forced off due to a head knock and failed to return, before David Nofoaluma was sent to the sin bin after a smart quick tap from Solomone Kata.
Benji Marshall managed to stop Ken Maumalo from scoring shortly after, but the big winger soon found himself over on the left courtesy of a looping cut-out pass by Blake Green.
Despite the setbacks, the Tigers stayed on task. They have thrived in the arm wrestle this season and were never going to roll over.
And when a run of penalties from the home team put them hot on attack, their hard work was rewarded as Mahe Fonua barged through Fusitu’a seven minutes from the break.
The visitors started the second half full of running but they were left fuming when Elijah Taylor was sent to the bin in the 45th minute for repeated infringements at the ruck.
The Warriors’ right-edge attack had looked dangerous all night and with the Tigers again a man down, that’s exactly where they headed.
Minutes after Fusitu’a was denied a double due to obstruction, the winger combined with Johnson and Peta Hiku for the try of the match.
Johnson finished what he started, running it on the last with Hiku producing a superb cut-out pass to Fusitu’a who fed it back inside to the halfback.
Then came the injury carnage, although smart play from Lawton ensured the Warriors would at least go home with another two points.