Fittler: Napa should take responsibility for fearful
Young five-eighth conquers his nerves to play a crucial role as the Warriors finally secure their ticket to
Back-up five-eighth Mason Lino says the Warriors will ride a wave of confidence into Friday’s NRL clash against Canberra and on into the playoffs,following their impressive win over Penrith.
The 24-year-old was superb filling in for injured No 6 Blake Green (calf strain) against the Panthers, scoring a try and combining well with halfback Shaun Johnson throughout the 36-16 win that confirmed the Warriors will feature in the playoffs for the first time since 2011. New South Wales Blues coach Brad Fittler said Sydney Roosters prop Dylan Napa should shoulder greater responsibility for the tackle which injured Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough on Saturday than the one which left Korbin Sims with a broken jaw in round 11.
Speaking on Channel Nine's The Footy Show, Fittler said the more recent act was the worse.
‘‘I think they are two [different tackles] ... although he uses the same technique,’’ Fittler said. ‘‘In the first one I thought Sims got off balance and played a bit of a part in getting in that position.
‘‘I thought it was Dylan in this [second] situation, he never got back the 10m, he wasn't quite balanced and then he rushed into the tackle.’’
On the same show league immortal Andrew Johns argued that as Napa
Lino admitted he felt nervous in the lead-up to the biggest game of his career and just his seventh appearance of the season so far, but credited the side’s senior playmakers for simplifying his role.
“I was a little bit [nervous],” said Lino.
“Obviously with Greeny out, there was some pretty big shoes to fill but I was lucky enough to have a pretty good support crew with Shauny and Rog (Tuivasa-Sheck) and Bully (Issac Luke) there.
“There’s a wealth of experience there and that made my job easier. I’ve still got a lot to work on but am wasn't charged for his tackle on Sims he should escape sanction again.
‘‘It is an accident, for me,’’ Johns said. ‘‘'There is a flaw in his technique that if someone put footwork late on Dylan, he just launches. He loses all sight of the target.
‘‘But, for me, they haven't charged him in round 11, so they can't charge him for that.’’
The ferocity of the 24th-minute tackle knocked McCullough out. He had to be stretchered off and took no further part in the game.
But the sight of McCullough convulsing on the Allianz Stadium turf turned public opinion against Napa.
The NRL's match review committee were to review the tackle last night in light of referee Gerard Sutton placing it on report.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson really pleased with the win.”
Lino settled in to the match comfortably and the Warriors’ attack clicked into gear with him stationed wide of the ruck at first receiver in the lead-up to David Fusitu’a first try.
He then handled twice and beat a handful of defenders on his way insisted ‘‘it’s not a shoulder charge. He is definitely going to tackle him. I don't think there should be a dispute over that.
‘‘It's whether they think it's OK to tackle that way.’’
Robinson also would not be drawn in too far on whether Napa's technique — rather than any intent — was the issue.
‘‘He's a physical player in our game. And he's aggressive in the way he goes about that play.’’
McCullough put out a tweet yesterday that Napa had apologised ‘‘numerous amount of times. He’s a quality guy and I will be alright’’.
Former Warrior Chad Townsend turned on one of his better performances of the season to help steer the Sharks to a 38-12 win over the Newcastle Knights.
They ran in six tries to two, Valen- to scoring their third try and, early in the second half, reclaimed possession from his own attacking kick which led to Fusitu’a’s second fourpointer.
Lino was pleased with his own performance but again deflected praise.
“That’s what I wanted to do, get an early carry in there and see if I can just ease myself into the game,” he said.
“We planned the whole week to start fast and we got lucky with a few early points. But our big boys laid the platform for us and allowed Shauny and Rog to get their running game going.”
Coach Stephen Kearney praised Lino’s selfless attitude and ability to step up again after spending the past month playing in reserve grade.
“I made mention to him that he needed to keep focused because I had no doubt that he was going to Andrew McCullough was knocked out in Dylan Napa’s tackle.