The good, the great and the average from the Warriors’ entertaining 20-8 win over the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Who’s ruining their career by staying at the Warriors? Another vintage, sticking-it-to-the-critics performance from the skipper. Terrorised the Titans with 197 metres, three line-breaks a try and a try-assist. Constantly popped up in attack and was super-safe at the back. 8.5
https://t.co/KVXhz2ApUK's Match Highlights from #NRLWarriorsTitans: https://t.co/Zr7sLGlZgZ#NRL pic.twitter.com/2ui9OwBkCj
— NRL (@NRL) March 17, 2018
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Another week, another double for ‘Fus’ – surging to the NRL lead with four tries. A brilliant leap and grab to score the match-sealer was the highlight-reel moment but he did plenty of graft work out of the Warriors’ end. 7.5
3 PETA HIKU: Set up Fusitu’a’s first try nicely and was busy with 16 carries, but didn’t overly stand out. 6
4 SOLOMONE KATA: Didn’t see a great deal of ball – making just eight runs – but produced an excellent finish for a crucial second-half try and kept Konrad Hurrell quiet. Has shown enough in two games to suggest he is over a poor 2017. 7
5 KEN MAUMALO: Another hard-working display with 17 runs for 136 metres and no bad gaffes, though he was caught out in the dying minutes as Anthony Don scooted in behind him to dot down a grubber. 6
6 BLAKE GREEN: Super ball to put RTS through for his try and played with real presence on attack. Slots in seamlessly with the three Kiwi Test stars in the spine. 7.5
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Less direct than last week but constantly had the Titans’ defence clutching at air. Played a key role in RTS’s try and kicked for Fusitu’a’s try. His super-high involvement and confidence is a great sign. 7.5
It's round 2 but the signs are good with Johnson doing all this running so early in the season. Gotta keep on doing the same.Blake Green could well be the side's MVP for the season but won't get the wraps for the effect he has on the balance of the side. #NRLWarriorsTitans
— Michael Minty (@MichaelMinty63) March 17, 2018
8 JAMES GAVET: Led the Warriors’ front-row contingent again, charging from the back fence all day for 123 metres. Picking up from where he left off before injury ended his 2017 campaign. 7
9 ISSAC LUKE: Another livewire dummy-half display from reborn ‘Bully’, making big inroads around the ruck and contributing heavily to the Warriors’ second-phase. Also chipped in 25 tackles. Last week was his best in a Warriors jumper; this week wasn’t far off being his second best. 7.5
10 ADAM BLAIR: Much more convincing than his club debut in Perth, racking up 10 runs and 24 tackles, while also using the ball impressively. 6.5
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Limped off with a knee complaint after just eight minutes – a disappointing blow after his breakout Round 1 display. 3
12 TOHU HARRIS: Like last week, the blue-chip recruit pulled out a superb all-round performance. Topped the tackle count with 34, helped lay on Fusitu’a’s first try and frequently threatened the Titans’ edge defenders in a 120-metre contribution. 8
Tohu Harris, so classy on that edge👌🏽 #WarriorNation
— Teuila Fotu Moala (@TeuilaFotuMoala) March 17, 2018
13 LIGI SAO: Some decent touches and finished with a modest 17 tackles and 13 runs. Did little wrong but he’s not doing much more than keeping Simon Mannering’s jumper warm. 6
14 SAM COOK: Injected late again by Stephen Kearney, doing his job but not getting an opportunity to do much more. 4
15 LEIVAHA PULU: Got his boarding pass early with Papali’i going off injured and revelled on the left edge, racking up 25 tackles and several strong runs against his former club. 7.5
16 SAM LISONE: Not as dominant as last week, but was solid with 16 tackles and eight runs – including one barnstorming run that almost saw the front-rower scored his second try in as many weeks. 6.5
17 BUNTY AFOA: A couple of bad handling errors but was again hardworking with 22 tackles and 11 runs for 93 metres, while he busted in open territory with a rousing break in the second half. Good comeback after a rocky start. 6.5
Has anyone else noticed that since the @steelcity_NRL podcast lads mentioned him as a future Immortal, big Bunty Afoa has had consecutive blinders? #nostradamus
— Mat and Kita Clarke (@KitaandMat) March 17, 2018
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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