Captain’s knock from Tuivasa-Sheck inspires
Judging by his own high standards, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had been below his best heading into Saturday’s crucial NRL clash against the Dragons.
But it didn’t take long for that to change in Wollongong as the Warriors skipper inspired his side to an 18-12 victory, leaving them in touching distance of a long-awaited finals berth.
With the Auckland club’s topeight spot on shaky ground after losing four of their previous five games, Tuivasa-Sheck seemingly took it upon himself to fire them into action against the fourthplaced Dragons.
He was in a dangerous mood from the outset, threatening the defence almost every time he touched the ball. By fulltime the fleet-footed fullback had run for 239 metres, with two linebreaks and nine tackle busts.
His performance will also be remembered for a spectacular try-saving tackle on a charging Tim Lafai, forcing a knock-on over the line just before halftime.
The Warriors immediately made the home team pay through Solomone Kata’s second try to stretch their lead to 18-0.
But it was Tuivasa-Sheck’s game-changing play that set the tone for a desperate defensive effort in the second half to hold off the Dragons’ fightback.
‘‘There’s been a number of times this year where Roger’s come up with a play like that,’’ Warriors coach Stephen Kearney said.
‘‘He sets a high standard. He’s not happy if he gets an eight out of 10 so this week I could just see it in his body language. He was very determined to make sure he led the way.
‘‘With his carries and obviously that defensive effort on Timmy Lafai epitomises what