All the player, coach, fan and media reaction from the Warriors’ 34-14 beatdown of Manly in Christchurch.
What the Warriors said
The Warriors were more happy with the way they clawed back from an early deficit than the manner of their second-half demolition job on the Sea Eagles.
“I thought how we played in the first half was probably more special to be honest,” Shaun Johnson told This Warriors Life.
“After going down 8-0 early on it would have been easy for us to try to come up with things or go away from what we’d spoken about all week.
“But the two tries we scored we played through them, ‘Greeny’ (Blake Green) played short on both of them and we were able to get back into the game the only way you can against a desperate side.”
Coach Stephen Kearney was pleased to chalk up a rare win at an alternate New Zealand venue and maintain the side’s outstanding away record in 2018, though he countered that by lamenting their recent blowout losses at Mount Smart.
But the Warriors were united in their praise of the partisan Christchurch crowd that rode them home.
"It was about sticking it to 'em and taking it up a gear." – Kearney
[Watch] https://t.co/Sa2B8wCNPr#LetsGoneWarriors pic.twitter.com/lMW3tyQVBl
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) June 11, 2018
"It gave us a lot of energy" Harris on the Christchurch support
[Watch] https://t.co/XheHoy8khN#LetsGoneWarriors pic.twitter.com/kxG9wUZybJ
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) June 10, 2018
"As a kids growing up in Whangaparaoa I never thought this would ever happen" Shaun Johnson on playing 150 NRL games
[Watch] https://t.co/0znec2YoJ6#LetsGoneWarriors pic.twitter.com/KrPyni8z6Y
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) June 9, 2018
"I was happy to be the recipient of some of those passes" Fusitu'a
[Watch] https://t.co/LTFMDDWNqn#LetsGoneWarriors pic.twitter.com/LStNqrrIl7
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) June 9, 2018
What the fans said
Thrilling win, great to have SJ back, brilliant crowd in Christchurch – there weren’t too many negatives to come out of this one.
Let's never forget that Chris Rattue would rather have Mason Lino. #NRLManlyWarriors
— Ryan Nixitu'a (@NewYorkNixon) June 9, 2018
Thanks to @SeaEagles for bringing the game to Christchurch mad respect ✊ #NRLManlyWarriors #FaitherFaceBookPage pic.twitter.com/gEAo6GG8Ak
— NZ WARRIORS #FAITHER (@FaitherNz) June 9, 2018
Supporters were also in raptures over Issac Luke’s gesture/OCD compulsion in retreating to rectify a missed high-five with a youngster.
But for every heart-warming situation in this social media age, there’s always at least one douchebag trying to ruin it:
Issac Luke's war with keyboard warrior after fan slams hooker's kind act https://t.co/HYqgjWlPoX pic.twitter.com/YI9BWYct6u
— nzherald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 10, 2018
What the NZ media said
NZ Herald’s Michael Burgess kept warm in Auckland for the match but he didn’t have the night off, lauding the Warriors’ “statement performance.”
Busy Herald stablemate David Skipwith led his match report with Shaun Johnson’s stylish performance in game No.150, covered off Kearney’s pleased reaction and backed up on Sunday to get the skinny from hat-trick hero David Fusitu’a on the win.
The Auckland-based Fairfax lads put their feet up as The Press stalwart Mat Kermeen worked overtime in Christchurch, including a piece on Manly’s commitment to the city.
Blake Green all smiles with his New Zealand Warriors mate Shaun Johnson back in NRL action https://t.co/GpvO60uXwj pic.twitter.com/jZajyOSLIZ
— Stuff.co.nz Sport (@NZStuffSport) June 9, 2018
Townsville road trip to provide Warriors with consistency test https://t.co/s60mppsAcg pic.twitter.com/9kcI26sCnj
— Stuff.co.nz Sport (@NZStuffSport) June 10, 2018
What the Aussie media said
Brad Walter was in Christchurch covering the game for NRL.com.
The Manly-Warriors game in Christchurch injected $10 million into the local economy and showed the desire for more NRL matches in this rugby league heartland, with more than 17k in attendance. It was a great few days, Christchurch. See you next time.
— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) June 9, 2018
Warriors double act: Fusitu'a gets the tries, Maumalo gets the credit https://t.co/SeXrT8qud7 via @NRLcom pic.twitter.com/u0gLVlkTyM
— Brad Walter (@BradWalterSport) June 9, 2018
James Smith pointed out that it’s not just the eastern seaboard centres that love 13-a-side.
Rugby league is only a Sydney and Brisbane game … Now be quiet while we watch this Christchurch, Newcastle and Darwin super Saturday. 🏉🏉🔥 #NRL #NRLManlyWarriors
— James Smith Inside Sport (@JamesSmith1001) June 9, 2018
John Dean, given the Fox Sports scribe duties for the match, drew comparisons between folically-blessed Warriors forward Isaiah Papali’i and Motley Crue.
Isaiah Papali'i straight out of an 80s glam rock band. #NRLManlyWarriors #NRL pic.twitter.com/ur9IKW5w32
— John Dean (@JohnDean_) June 9, 2018
Johnson shines in milestone match as Green haunts old side: https://t.co/XLKFbeJoLB via @JohnDean_ #NRLManlyWarriors #NRL pic.twitter.com/XtRCgyLQkD
— FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) June 9, 2018
What we said
Never forget how ‘Gus’ dudded the rugby league community in Canterbury.
Wish you were here @PenrithPanthers? Actually, weren’t you meant to be? On behalf of the Canterbury league community, thanks @SeaEagles for making @NRL dreams come true again #NRLManlyWarriors pic.twitter.com/QBhtxzb63A
— This Warriors Life (@thiswarriorslyf) June 9, 2018
But Christchurch had a bloody good time with their new ‘hosts’.
Best second half of the season https://t.co/RufE6Mys3s
— This Warriors Life (@thiswarriorslyf) June 9, 2018
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
Leave a Reply