Marks out of 10 for the Warriors players after a Sharks heartbreaker.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): If Roger and his missus didn’t just have a baby, we would have his babies. Another unbelievable performance in a career-best season. Rolled up his sleeves when his team was struggling, pulled off some extraordinary clean-up work at the back and made a scorching line-break to all but get his team the win. Don’t call the Dally M Fullback and Player of the Year awards for Ponga just yet. 8.5
Another one……….Another try saving tackle from Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. I don't know how many he's had this year. But he' such a great player!!!!! 🙌🏽
— Shontelle Matano (@ShontelleMatano) June 29, 2018
23 PETA HIKU: One bad error from a kick-return blighted his night but was otherwise sound playing in his fourth different position in four rounds. Comes under fire for his defence but never shirks his work with the ball, carting it up for 113 metres filling in for David Fusitu’a. 6.5
3 ANTHONY GELLING: Scored an early try and celebrated like he’d bagged the Super Bowl-winning touchdown. Barely made an impact thereafter and finished with just eight carries for 63 metres, but did little wrong. 6
Making it rain!@AnthonyGelling is too strong.#TelstraPremiership#NRLWarriorsSharks#NRL pic.twitter.com/ZZbd3D0LIM
— NRL (@NRL) June 29, 2018
4 SOLOMONE KATA: Great first-half battle with the beastly Jesse Ramien, in which both players scored barnstorming tries. Defended well throughout but went missing on attack after the break. 6
5 GERARD BEALE: Sound as ever, un-dynamic as ever. Worked hard with 14 runs for 100 metres but understandably couldn’t match Big Ken’s impact. A valuable fill-in but it’s becoming clearer Beale probably doesn’t offer enough to be picked when everyone’s available. 6
6 BLAKE GREEN: Competent playmaking performance, average kicking game – not his best but also not terrible. Chalked up 15 tackles. 6
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Struggled for timing in the first half and drifted out of the game for a while, but was hugely influential in the second half. Some pinpoint kicks, nice touches on attack and a late field goal should have seen him feted as one of the heroes of a win – but it wasn’t to be. 7.5
Shaun Johnson so much better when he thinks run first, kick second…RUN DA DANG BALL SJ
— The Fall Guy (@gcampbell_88) June 29, 2018
8 JAMES GAVET: Unnecessary early penalty but was strong with 27 tackles and nine runs for 100 metres, though we could have done with more up against the Sharks’ trio of Origin props, especially with Bunty bowing out early. 6
24 ISSAC LUKE: An enormous 80-minute effort after the so-called burden of the Denver trip, racking up 35 tackles and carving out 70 metres from five probing dummy-half runs. Denied a match-sealing try by a couple of metres; cruelly, getting involved in that play ultimately cost the Warriors the game. But we’re brimming with admiration for Bully. 7.5
Can’t help but feel for the @NZWarriors right now ! Massive effort @issacluke_14 bro, I know you guys can’t say anything about the officiating but it was the worst I’ve seen for some time, let’s get the win next week boys ! Tough loss that one.
— ryan davis (@evokednz) June 29, 2018
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: The poor handling error stands out but good production again from Iggy, finishing with 29 tackles and 11 runs for 124 metres, including some inspiring off-the-back-fence work. 7
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Marvellous work to set up Kata’s opener, topped the tackle count with 41 stops and ran it 13 times. Quality. 7.5
12 TOHU HARRIS: What happened here? The ever-reliable Harris produced easily his poorest display as a Warrior – and possibly of his NRL career. Chewed threw 39 tackles but was a lemon on the other side of the ball, highlighted by an uncustomary handling error. The heavy strapping on the knee might explain it and he limped off late in a worrying sign. 5
Strange one for Tohu Harris, no clear mechanism of injury & seemed to be moving well right up til the final try was scored (Harris not involved). Did have his left knee strapped at half time. Left the field in plenty of discomfort, didn’t look good #NRLWarriorsSharks pic.twitter.com/X2yM1ECcUp
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 29, 2018
13 SIMON MANNERING: We were confident being back in the middle would see Mannering go back to his awe-inspiring 50-tackle, 130-metre contributions of the last few years, in turn showing Adam Blair up. But his work with the ball was Blair-like in its quantity (eight runs, 71 metres), though he did rack up 36 tackles. We would have two more points on the ladder if he cleaned up that charged-down field goal attempt, but it was just one of those things. 5.5
9 KARL LAWTON: Not used with Luke playing the entire game against the odds. N/A
15 CHRIS SATAE: Made 20 tackles and four runs for 50 metres, but also coughed it up near the Sharks’ line early in the second half. Good enough to keep him in first grade. 6
16 BUNTY AFOA: Only had time for two carries during a particularly tough period of the game for the Warriors before going off with a reported dislocated elbow. Big concern for the only forward to play in all 15 games so far this season. 5
Looking like Bunty Afoa did dislocate his elbow tonight, hope for no fracture. Likely 3-6 week recovery if only soft tissue injury #NRLWarriorsSharks
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 29, 2018
17 JAZZ TEVAGA: We were intrigued to hear Jazzy wrap his own performance post-match – that was one of his less-impressive efforts in a breakout year. Worked hard (35 tackles, six runs for 70 metres) but also came up with mistakes. Nevertheless, good to see him back from his cancer scare. 6
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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