TWL gives da boyz a mark out of 10 for their efforts in beating the Tigers 26-4.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Standard from the skipper – which means brilliant. Flawless at the back, made a couple of sizzling breaks and ran for 136 metres. Developing into one of the NRL’s best leaders. 8
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Fine finish for the opening try, produced an assist and was constantly involved, racking up a total of 125 metres. Just about his best all-round showing of the year. 8
David Fusitu'a opened the scoring with another acrobatic dive:
Video: https://t.co/CLgXaMx3mN pic.twitter.com/5B12CYu5N0— FOX SPORTS NRL (@FOXNRLLive) May 5, 2018
3 PETA HIKU: Targeted defensively and came up with a few misses, but his work in attack overshadowed that. Dangerous with each touch and combined wonderfully with Johnson and Fusitu’a. 7
4 SOLOMONE KATA: A quiet-ish comeback from injury but solid enough, containing Esan Marsters and carting the ball up 10 times. Better in the second half. 6
5 KEN MAUMALO: Another big haul of 178 metres including some huge carries, a rare try, some even rarer outstanding defensive reads…there wasn’t any better on the night than big Ken. 8
27' Greeny serves it up for Maumalo on a plate. Ken is over for a TRY in his 50th #NRL appearance 🙌 pic.twitter.com/HFTaeE3vrY
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) May 5, 2018
6 BLAKE GREEN: Brilliant ball to send Maumalo in and got busier as the match wore on. Outshone opposing five-eighth Benji in another classy outing. 7.5
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: The leg injury is the story, but SJ was sensational before limping off. Ran for 85 metres, had a delightful try-assist, finished off a long-range movement he started and toyed with the Tigers throughout. Fingers crossed! 8
For Shaun Johnson and Adam Blair, if high ankle (syndesmosis) sprains general recovery guide (likely grade 1-2):
Gr1: 1-4 wks
Gr2: 4-8 wks
Gr3: 8-10 wks
With fracture would be 10+ wks— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) May 5, 2018
8 BUNTY AFOA: Rivalling Maumalo as the Warriors’ most improved player in 2018. A barnstorming opening stint that included two clean breaks set the tone for a 125-metre night. Has well and truly cemented his spot. 8
9 ISSAC LUKE: Wasn’t meant to play but did anyway and hit his straps after a tentative start. The surprise call to back up so soon after a knee injury may have inadvertently back-fired when he suffered a shoulder injury that looks certain to sideline him. 6.5
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Monster performance up front from Paasi, who was the best forward on the park in the second half. Fox Sports credit him with 20 hit-ups for 186 metres which we’re still trying to verify, but he was definitely awesome. 8
Agnatius Paasi has to be right up there for signing of the season #NRLWarriorsTigers
— Jono Britten (@Jono_James23) May 5, 2018
16 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: A surprise starter ahead of Mannering and was super-busy with 23 tackles and 11 runs. Hard to believe someone that big is still a teenager. 6.5
12 TOHU HARRIS: Great comeback from concussion, tallying 21 tackles and 111 metres, coming up with some slick touches on attack and doing some excellent clean-up work in multiple scrappy moments. 7.5
13 ADAM BLAIR: A return of 17 tackles and five runs for 39 metres doesn’t do much for his meagre averages, but the quality of Blair’s work was excellent. Deft touch in the lead-up to the first try, great in defence – but now we wait for the injury diagnosis. 7
14 KARL LAWTON: What a cameo! Came on for Luke inside the final quarter and iced the match with two great tries in the space of four minutes. Great story after breaking his leg on NRL debut for the Titans at Mount Smart less than two years ago. Definitely first-grade standard. 7.5
Great to see Karl Lawton get a try or two the poor fella has no luck #NRLWarriorsTigers #merrins pic.twitter.com/2RoDRs5yjR
— under the radar (@scundertheradar) May 5, 2018
15 SAM LISONE: Came on, got stuck in. Eight runs and 19 tackles. Solid. 6
11 SIMON MANNERING: Slipped back to the bench in a late change and looked a bit out of rhythm with the ball (despite finishing with 11 runs for 90 metres) but topped the tackle count with 27. 6
17 JAMES GAVET: Rollicking start after replacing Afoa, which he undid with the worst offload of all time. But great to see the enforcer back, and he racked up 16 tackles and 10 hit-ups in a strong return. 6
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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