Bulldogs prove no match
Warriors Bulldogs
J40 6 ob done, in extraordinary circumstances. On a day when an NRL match seemed almost trivial after the horrific events in Christchurch, the Warriors gave the nation something to celebrate from a sporting point of view.
Their 40-6 win over the Bulldogs was as clinical as the scoreline suggests, with the game effectively over as a contest at halftime. It was the biggest opening-day victory in the club’s history, eclipsing a 16-point win over the Eels in 2007. It provided a ray of light for a country shrouded in darkness, struggling to comprehend Friday’s tragedy.
“In the events of the last 24-30 hours, there hasn’t been a whole lot to smile about,” said Warriors coach Stephen Kearney after the match. “The lads were really keen to put in a performance that would make some people smile anyway.”
The team held a prayer session on Friday night during their team dinner, and again broached the subject before the match, while the emotion was obvious in the dressing room.
“I could feel it amongst the lads,” said Kearney. “They weren’t quite as jovial as they usually are, which is understandable. I sat [yesterday morning] watching the news from 8-10 from start to finish and it certainly had an effect.”
Wing David Fusitu’a, who has relatives in Christchurch, admitted it was an emotional struggle.
“It was something no one could have imagined,” said Fusitu’a. “We heard the Crusaders match was called off and we didn’t know if we were going to play. During the 80 minutes, you are focused, but afterwards, all those other thoughts come back.”
With regards to the football yesterday, the Warriors were very good.
They ran hard and straight with purpose and gradually wore down the opposition. The forwards, as promised, look a bigger and stronger unit than last season, with Bunty Afoa and Leeson Ah Mau particular standouts, while Sam Lisone seems a changed man from last year.
Wing Ken Maumalo had a storming game, creating some Richter-scale collisions, while Blake Green marshalled the troops effectively and had an influence in most tries. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck enjoyed an impeccable start to his season and Solomone Kata made a promising start to life on the right flank.
The surprise packet was rookie half Adam Keighran. In his first NRL game, and stepping into the notinconsiderable shoes of Shaun Johnson, the 21-year-old enjoyed a memorable debut. He kicked brilliantly, defended solidly, made a couple of breaks, produced a try assist and scored a neat solo touchdown.
Praise for the Warriors must be tempered by the level of the opposition, who were awful. But any such margin in an NRL match is well earned, and the Warriors brutalised their opposition, with Bulldogs coach Dean Pay admitting his team were out-muscled and unable to compete physically yesterday.
The Warriors made constant inroads through the middle, and took their chances well, with Nathaniel Roache’s try late in the first half epitomising the confidence and skill on display, as both Kata and Fusitu’a timed their passes to perfection. There will be much tougher tests to come but a platform has been laid.
Warriors 40 (K. Maumalo, S. Kata 2, A. Keighran, N. Roache, R. Tuivasa-Sheck, P. Hiku tries; Keighran 6 goals) Bulldogs 6 (C. Crichton try; K. Holland Halftime: 22-0.