IS THIS THEIR YEAR?
Warriors go 4-0 after thrashing Roosters
No Shaun Johnson — no problem, say the unbeaten table-topping Warriors. The Auckland NRL club continued their early-season party and announced themselves as finals contenders with an upset win over the Roosters in Sydney last night.
If their wins over the mid-strength Rabbitohs, Titans and Raiders didn’t convince doubters of the Warriors’ top-eight potential, their four-tries-toone and historic fourth straight campaign opening victory over one of the premiership heavyweights should.
With Johnson missing the match with a groin strain, back-up halfback Mason Lino filled in superbly to finish his 10th NRL match with 18 points from a try and seven goals.
The 24-year-old opened the scoring for the visitors before bustling back rower Leivaha Pulu and powerful centre Solomone Kata crossed for a commanding 18-6 halftime lead, after the Roosters scored an early try through centre Latrell Mitchell.
Lino slotted a penalty 12 minutes into the second half, and soon after produced a pinpoint crossfield kick for wing David Fusitu’a to climb high and post their fourth try with more
than a quarter of the match remaining, before Lino rounded out his tally with two more late penalties.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney suggested the Roosters might have taken his side lightly following news they were missing key playmaker Johnson and prop James Gavet,
ruled out with a hamstring injury.
“Possibly we got them on a bit of an off day, when you get the news of someone like Shaun and James not being in the side,” Kearney said. “I’m not downplaying the lads’ effort — they defended really well and stuck to the plan pretty well. There were
times when we drifted away from it but there were contributions from right across the park and it was going to take one of those sorts of performances from the team [last night].”
Kearney was pleased with Lino’s contribution and said Johnson’s absence was precautionary, leaving hope that he’ll be fit for Saturday’s home clash against the Cowboys.
“Early on in the week, he pulled up with a bit of soreness and he missed a couple of trainings and had a fitness test [on Friday], and we just didn’t want to take any risks,” he said. “Young Mason’s been with the group all week and did a wonderful job.”
Last year’s Warriors managed only one away win but this year’s outfit have already racked up three, despite a busy schedule taking them to Perth, Auckland, Canberra and Sydney.
The Roosters opened the scoring, with Mitchell finishing a set move, but their play quickly deteriorated through mistakes and ill-discipline.
The Warriors replied with Lino accepting an offload from second rower Tohu Harris to score after Blake Green switched play back across the ruck from left to right.
Sustained pressure paid off after Lino forced a repeat set with Pulu crashing over on the left, and Kata steamed on to a pass from captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck down the same side to extend the lead to 18-4.
The anticipated Roosters comeback never got going and the Warriors pushed further ahead in the second half through Lino’s right boot and Fusitu’a’s fifth try of the season, while they defended brilliantly to contain the Tricolours.
Warriors 30 (M. Lino, L. Pulu, S. Kata, D. Fusitu’a tries; M. Lino 4 cons, 3 pens)
Roosters 6 (L. Mitchell try, pen).