Man did we enjoy slinging some numbers at the Warriors’ 17 heroes after their 30-6 pummelling of the Roosters!
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Three from three against his old club. The skipper was very good again, but he probably stood out less than he did in the opening three rounds – which is a massive wrap on the job his 16 teammates did. Still great though, chalking up another try-assist and doing some first-rate clean-up work at the back before taking an early mark. 7.5
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck doing well to stay on there, hypextended his elbow when Mitchell landed on it after breaking the line. Hope he’s able to come back after half time #NRLRoostersWarriors
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) March 31, 2018
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Some strong carries and a brilliant take of a bomb to reclaim top billing in the NRL’s tryscoring race. 7
3 PETA HIKU: Looked set for a torrid afternoon opposite Latrell Mitchell early, but responded extremely well to rack up 137 metres from a game-high 17 carries. Superb addition to the Warriors’ midfield. 7.5
4 SOLOMONE KATA: No Warrior has improved more on their 2017 performances than the Sol-man. Ran powerfully, busy out of a dummy-half, a crucial try and stout in defence. Loving his work. 7.5
5 KEN MAUMALO: Don’t tell anyone, but I’m starting to get a small crush on big Ken. His snail-paced tryscoring strike-rate has been a regular TWL punching bag but he has cut the errors from his game and has managed to keep Jordan Rapana and Blake Ferguson try-less in consecutive weeks. Finished this game with a game-high 150 metres from 15 runs, and looked mean with every carry. 8
6 BLAKE GREEN: Green is so composed that if he headed up to the cockpit after our plane started going down, I’d go back to watching my movie. Great leadership, didn’t overplay his hand with Johnson missing, and drilled another 40/20. A class act. 8
Could this be the third year in a row that Blake Green is buy of the year? #LetsGoneWarriors #NRLRoostersWarriors
— Michael Johnstone (@michaeljnrl) March 31, 2018
18 MASON LINO: Remember that day Mason Lino thoroughly outplayed Cooper Cronk? Of course I do, it was today! Absolute master-class in Shaun Johnson’s absence (and much better than Ata Hingano would have come up with, btw). Scored a try, notched a try-assist, kicked brilliantly in general play and off the tee, and was a super-cool head. Ready to take on JT if needed. 8.5
And wow Mason Lino.. think Shaun Johnson should be a bit worried #NRLRoostersWarriors
— Tiffany Salmond (@tiffany_salmond) March 31, 2018
17 BUNTY AFOA: Arguably the NRL’s best bench forward over the opening three rounds, Bunty took it upon himself to lead the Warriors’ second-string front-row charge with Gavet and Lisone out. His Okesene-like charges laid a great platform. 8
9 ISSAC LUKE: Spilled his Cadbury Crème Eggs twice in the early stages but was outstanding thereafter. Finished with 95 metres on 12 runs and menaced the Roosters. Witnessing Luke back at his energetic, cocky best has been an absolute treat. 7.5
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Super-quiet last week in his first NRL outing of the season after starting at lock but Paasi was the opposite against the high-profile Roosters pack. Busy, aggressive display with 11 punishing runs and plenty of offloads. 7.5
11 LEIVAHA PULU: They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, and Pulu’s performance looked like he was trying to replicate Tohu Harris. Hardworking, dynamic, enthusiastic, skilful – and a fine try to boot! He’ll be hard to leave out of a full-strength pack moving forward. 8
12 TOHU HARRIS: Duking it out with teammate Green for the NRL’s ‘buy of the season’ gong. Spectacular performance again that might just see him on top of the Dally M leaderboard by the end of the weekend. Try assist, lots of work on both sides of the ball, quality touches on attack and key shut-downs on defence – another day at the office for Tohu, who is staking a claim as the game’s best second-rower. 8.5
13 ADAM BLAIR: We bagged him hard last week, but that’s the performance TWL has been waiting for. Ten willing runs – more than three times as many as last week – and a sweet pass to set up Pulu’s try, plus some great defence. More please Blairy! 7.5
Team culture has been a major theme this week, and the @NZWarriors are proving fast & meaningful transformation is possible.@86Blairy explains the role the Maori language is playing in the club’s 4-0 start to the season #NRLRoostersWarriors:https://t.co/skPTJTGCyo
— Alex Brown (@AlexBrown77) March 31, 2018
14 JAZZ TEVAGA: I don’t really like jazz, the musical style, at all. But I feel like listening to bebop all night long after Jazz Tevaga’s displays in the past two weeks. Tireless, dynamic and courageous – there has to be an ongoing spot in the 17 for him. 8
15 LIGI SAO: Another TWL villain leading into 2018, Sao came on and got through plenty of work, including eight runs for 70 metres. 6.5
16 CHRIS SATAE: Didn’t get a heap of game-time but man, did he make it count. Outstanding in the trials and carried that form into his first NRL outing of the season, running the ball seven times for 69 metres and looking every bit the first-grader. 7
Fair effort by ex @PenrithPanthers Chris Satae to find his way from #RMCUP @WindsorWolves to #NRL with the @NZWarriors #NRLRoostersWarriors
— Stew Moses 🏉🏏 (@TheRiffMarn) March 31, 2018
20 ANTHONY GELLING: Brief outing at the end to make his NRL debut, but Auckland-born Wigan stalwart made a couple of strong runs, did nothing wrong and didn’t even charge down any penalty goal attempts. 6
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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