Warriors mauled by Panthers
SYDNEY: — As with their season as a whole, the New Zealand Warriors were brilliant in patches, threatened better things but were ultimately the masters of their own demise as they exited the NRL for 2018.
Lauded for their best season since 2011’s grand final effort, the Warriors would be justifiably disappointed with Saturday’s rudderless elimination final display against the Panthers at ANZ Stadium.
Early tries to hooker Issac Luke and winger David Fusitu’a — his 23rd in 23 games — had many in the stadium and across the Tasman daring to dream as the visitors took a 122 lead.
But the cruellest of injury blows to inspirational captain Roger TuivasaSheck and an inability to contend with the gamemanaging genius of Panthers skipper James Maloney thwarted the Warriors.
Their panicked, muddled decisionmaking with the game still in the balance was a key contributor to their downfall as Penrith turned the screws.
‘‘There was a 15minute period there during that first half where we gave momentum back to them,’’ lamented Warriors coach
Stephen Kearney of a threetry Panthers blitz.
‘‘We didn’t execute well enough and [committed] basic errors . . . that’s the lesson for this group.’’
With TuivasaSheck — who succumbed to a suspected medial ligament injury in a heavy twoman tackle — a nonfactor after 27 minutes, the Warriors faced an uphill battle from that point on and Kearney acknowledged a shift in the mood of his charges.
‘‘There was a bit of a sense when Roger did come off, there was a bit of a lull in our energy.’’
Warriors backrower Tohu Harris paid tribute to retiring club great Simon Mannering,
who last week became the first player at the club to reach the 300game milestone.
‘‘We didn’t want his career to end [tonight]. He’s someone you want out on the field next to you,’’ Harris said.
‘‘He’s left a huge mark on this club and hopefully we can continue on from where he left it off.’’
In other matches, a 77thminute Cameron Munster field goal fired Melbourne to a thrilling 2928 win over South Sydney on Friday night and the Sydney Roosters beat Cronulla 2112 on Saturday.
St George Illawarra beat the Brisbane Broncos 4818 last night. — AAP