Warriors come out firing in second half to tip over Tigers
RUGBY LEAGUE Warriors v Tigers
Warriors 26 (Peta Hiku 2, Karl Lawton, Tohu Harris tries; Kodi Nikorima 4 cons, pen)
Tigers 20 (Moses Mbye, David Nofoaluma, Sam McIntyre, Tommy Talau tries; Benji Marshall con, Moses Mbye con)
HT: 814
AUCKLAND: When Warriors fans look back on the 2020 indigenous round, they will be reminded of the time the NRL bunker ruled in their team’s favour.
The Warriors v the Bunker has been a longstanding narrative, laced with complaints over questionable decisions against the club.
However, an overturned notry call was the difference in the Warriors’ 2620 win over the Wests Tigers in Sydney last night.
With the scores level at 14 midway through the second half, the Warriors moved it through the hands — from Kodi Nikorima on to Eliesa Katoa, who squeezed an offload out to Peta Hiku with room to move.
Hiku put the foot down and took on Tigers fullback Adam Doueihi, toeing the sideline before planting the ball. The onfield decision was notry, but the bunker found Hiku had remained in the field of play, the try was given and the match was turned on its head.
To be fair to the NRL nomads, they deserved to be in the lead. The Tigers have shown through the 2020 season that they either win big, or struggle in a dogfight. From the kickoff, the Warriors took the battle to the Tigers.
Some good work on defence in the opening sets was a promising sign for the Warriors, but when Roger TuivasaSheck came up with an ugly playtheball inside his own 10m, the Tigers crossed rather easily via Moses Mbye.
By the 15minute mark, the Warriors had conceded two tries and things were beginning to look all too familiar.
But after his early mistake, TuivasaSheck worked tirelessly to make up for it. The Warriors captain got involved, working his way into the game up the middle.
An opportunistic try from hooker Karl Lawton, followed soon after by a penalty goal levelled the scores at eight, but the Warriors looked the better side after the opening 15 minutes.
Loan forward Jack Hetherington continued to show his talent, and new additions George Jennings and Daniel Alvaro did their job well in limited opportunities.
After three penalties in short succession, the Tigers crossed again through Sam McIntyre to take a 148 halftime lead.
Out of the break, the Warriors were forced to defend following an error from Green, but after a strong defensive set were able to again work the ball down field.
Hiku crossed the stripe off a strong solo run close to the line to level the scores, before bagging a second thanks to the bunker.
When Tohu Harris crossed with ease to make it 2614 with less than 20 minutes to play, the game was the Warriors’ to lose.
Tigers winger Tommy Talau pulled the gap back to six in the final 10 minutes, but the Warriors held on for a deserved win. — The New Zealand Herald