The Warriors have started the season 3-0 for the first time in their history, eclipsing the previous best of two wins to open a campaign in 2007 and 2009.
The second of Shaun Johnson’s late one-pointers to snatch a 20-19 win over Canberra marked the first time the Warriors have won a match via a deadlock-breaking field goal since 2009. Stacey Jones piloted over a golden point field goal against the Roosters that year.
Johnson now has 11 field goals in his NRL career, second only to Jones’ 14. The halfback also kicked three from three to improve his 2018 success rate to 64.29%, and is ranked 13th in the NRL for tackle-breaks with 13.
HOLY SHAUN JOHNSON OMG
— Hayley Byrnes (@HayleyByrnes) March 24, 2018
Shaun Johnson pulled the game out of the fire yesterday – but it's hardly the first time. Relive all of the @NZWarriors talisman's clutch match-winning moments from an extraordinary career. #WarriorNation #ThisWarriorsLife #ShaunJohnson #clutch https://t.co/PQ0leqKJ94
— This Warriors Life (@thiswarriorslyf) March 24, 2018
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck added a fourth try assist to his tally on the weekend, sitting equal-fourth in the NRL (first among non-halves). Meanwhile, the fullback is third in the competition for running metres (477) after a game-high 179 against the Raiders, and equal-second for line-breaks with four.
Ken Maumalo is 10th in the NRL for running metres with an impressive 142 per game. He was second in the category from either side in the Raiders win, carting the ball for 147 metres.
Tohu Harris is the Warriors’ top tackler after three rounds with 84 – a modest 39th in the NRL as the team shares the load around – but Jazz Tevaga topped the count for the side in Canberra with 35 tackles off the bench.
Issac Luke (82) and Bunty Afoa (80) are just behind Harris in the defensive department after three rounds.
Bunty Afoa was Beasty Afoa yesterday. Dude was killing it. @NZWarriors
— Stephen W T Gallagher (@SWTGallagher) March 24, 2018
Luke is also averaging 83 metres per game – second in the NRL amongst hookers behind Damien Cook – while Afoa is contributing 123 metres per game off the bench, good for 28th in the NRL overall, 11th amongst forwards and second amongst interchange players.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Adam Blair and Luke have conceded the equal-most penalties by a Warriors player with four – equal-seventh in the NRL.
Meanwhile, the only players to have featured in all three games this season to have made less running metres than Blair’s paltry 167 are halves Johnson (158) and Blake Green (47).
One of the most glorious sights in rugby league is Adam Blair in full flight, on his way to the bin
— Fire Up (@FireUpOnFBI) March 24, 2018
Despite a quiet game and no tries, David Fusitu’a remains tied for the lead in the NRL’s tryscoring race with four meat pies, equal with Blake Ferguson, Richard Kennar and Elliott Whitehead.
THE PUNT
The following selections paid out after the Warriors’ 20-8 win over Gold Coast (via NZ TAB)
-Warriors Win @ $2.00
-Warriors +1.5 @ $1.91
-Warriors 12 & Under @ $3.20
-Half/Fulltime Double – Raiders/Warriors @ $8.00 (TWL tipped this one, by the way)
-Under 47.5 Points @ $1.92
LET'S. GONE. WARRIORS.
— TAB Sport (@TAB_Sport) March 24, 2018
The Warriors H2H price peaked at $6 this afternoon.
Good work to those who jumped on!#KeepTheFaith
— TAB Sport (@TAB_Sport) March 24, 2018
The haters trying to catch the Warriors bandwagon like pic.twitter.com/u2AxFt8gh7
— TAB Sport (@TAB_Sport) March 24, 2018
Categories: Team News + Stats, WARRIORS NEWS
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