Leading by example

Warriors turn it on for big win in Manawatu

If the Warriors can improve on how they looked on Sunday when the NRL starts in two weeks’ time, then there could be good things to come for the Auckland club this year.

Led by electric fullback and new captain Roger Tuivasa-sheck, the Warriors beat the Gold Coast Titans 26-6 at CET Arena in Palmerston North on Sunday, in their last trial game before they start the season proper against the Newcastle Knights on March 5.

Tuivasa-sheck missed most of last season with a knee injury, but on Sunday that looked a distant memory, as he was a constant threat from the back.

He laid on three try assists and spent most of his afternoon busting through Gold Coast tackles.

He was helped by the tight Warriors defence, which looked solid for most of the match and was much better than when they lost to the Melbourne Storm 30-18 last week.

Veteran forward Simon Mannering was pleased with the win but still thinks they can get better.

‘‘I thought both teams were pretty rusty at times, especially towards the end of that second half

"We were more consistent throughout the whole game, but there's still things we have to do so much better." Simon Mannering

it got pretty scrappy,’’ Mannering said. ‘‘It was an improvement on last week.

‘‘We were more consistent throughout the whole game, but there’s still things we have to do so much better which we will have to do going into round one.’’

Mannering believed they were better for the game last week and he said their spine played well.

After the Warriors were up 10-0 through tries to Isaiah Papalii and Tuimoala Lolohea, Nathan Davies scored right on halftime for the Titans to make it 10-6 at the break, even though it felt like the Warriors should have been up by far more.

‘‘That try just before halftime was disappointing because there was a minute to go and it was a familiar story for us,’’ Mannering said. ‘‘We switch off with one tackle towards the end of the half or end of the game and let them in.

‘‘That was soft. I just liked the way we bounced back. They opened us up a couple of times, but we didn’t panic, we chased back, defended our tryline, they got repeat sets but we stayed calm. ‘‘

David Fusitua and James Gavet cross for the Warriors in the second half to give them a 20-6 lead, before Mannering sealed the win with a late try.

Titans assistant coach Terry Matterson bemoaned their injury toll, with two players in hospital, one with a shoulder injury, and Pat Politini had a broken arm.

‘‘It was disappointing, but our main focus has got to be on the injuries we copped in this game,’’

Matterson said. ‘‘We copped six injuries out of the game.

‘‘We can look at the performance a little bit later, but with all those injuries that means we were fairly disjointed in the game. We didn’t have a lot of ball and that was the game.

‘‘The Warriors were too big and strong and had all the football. It’s good this happens in a trial for us. We can dust ourselves off and look at what we need to do better and get ready for round one.’’

Matterson said they started well, but got kick happy and once they didn’t score, the Warriors came back and scored soft tries.

Warriors second rower Ryan Hoffman picked up a foot strain early in the game and ended up in a moon boot, and prop Charlie Gubb went to hospital as a precaution because he hurt his neck in a tackle.

With Hoffman off the field, Bunty Afoa played the whole game and put in an impressive display.