Marks out of 10 for the Warriors players after their gritty win over the Cowboys.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Two slick try-assists, a dazzling 70-metre solo try, a team-high 143 metres and a few clutch plays on defence – one hell of a captain’s knock from Roger. An error that led to Kyle Feldt’s second try was the only real negative. 8
18 GERARD BEALE: Some good touches with the ball but certainly struggled to match the injured David Fusitu’a’s impact. Beale had 97 metres from 11 carries but looks far more comfortable at centre. 6
3 PETA HIKU: A strong showing in his first game in five weeks at centre. Racked up 16 tackles and 13 carries for 117 metres. Much better defensively than he has been with two missed tackles – a season-low for Hiku in the centres. 7
4 SOLOMONE KATA: A barnstorming first half, including a great try and 80 metres…then bombed a gift-wrapped four-pointer and limped off with a hamstring injury. 6
5 KEN MAUMALO: Finished off the first try nicely but cancelled that out with a half-asleep miss as Feldt scored from dummy-half. Some eye-catching runs among his team-high 15 but overall was down a bit on his top-shelf recent form. 7
6 BLAKE GREEN: Took a back-seat to Johnson with a season-low 25 possessions – including an ill-advised pass that led to a long-range Cowboys try – but defended very stoutly, making 24 tackles with no misses. Nice touch in the first try, too. 6.5
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Lacked the out-and-out brilliance of last week but arguably just as influential. Wonderful kicking game – particularly in the latter stages – and slotted the match-sealing field goal, as well booting five-from-five off the tee. 7.5
8 JAMES GAVET: Solid contribution of 10 runs for 75 metres and 19 tackles. Still waiting for a real enforcer-type performance from the Warriors’ best prop of 2017, but can’t complain too much. 6.5
9 ISSAC LUKE: An absolute dynamo in attack with 106 metres, a line-break and three tackle-busts, plus grafted for 31 tackles. Three handling errors at key junctures probably robbed the in-form rake of man-of-the-match honours. 7.5
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Pretty good again but not quite as strong as recent weeks, tallying 17 tackles and eight runs for 65 metres. Needed to do more to push for a Kiwis debut. 6.5
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Good presence on the left edge, reeling off 34 tackles and six runs. Hard to believe this big, tough unit is still only 19. 7
12 TOHU HARRIS: The Warriors’ everywhere-man yet again, topping the tackle count with 39 and running for 100 – the best of his side’s forwards apart from Luke. So valuable. 7.5
13 ADAM BLAIR: Comparing Blair to opposite number Taumalolo in attack isn’t a fair fight – the Warriors No.13 made 41 metres from five runs, JT charged for over 200 metres – but he made some big, big plays defensively. 6.5
14 KARL LAWTON: Staked a claim for a permanent bench utility role by playing the last half-hour out at centre. Didn’t stand out but held things together well in a team that was under the pump. 6
15 CHRIS SATAE: There’s been speculation Satae’s move to the Storm isn’t the done deal originally thought, which would be great news for the Warriors. Fifteen tackles and three strong carries off the bench and a lot of quality in his work. 6.5
16 BUNTY AFOA: Unlucky not to be in the run-on side, Bunty took to his work off the bench with gusto, racking up 28 tackles and eight runs for 75 metres. Kiwi-worthy. 7
17 SIMON MANNERING: Dominated territory- and possession-wise, the Warriors needed workhorses – and Mannering nailed the brief. Powered through 32 carries and nine runs in one of his better showings this season. 7
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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