WARRIORS ROUND 18 PLAYER RATINGS

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We had much more fun dishing out marks out of 10 this week than last – nine scores of eight-plus.

1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Another blinder from the skipper, saving a try in the opening minutes, running for a game-high 196 metres and notching a try-assist. Stellar. 8.5

2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Play didn’t really go big ‘Fus’’ way on attack, but he was excellent down the Warriors’ end and finished with 91 metres on nine carries. 7

5 GERARD BEALE: A bad early defensive miss was the only black mark against the former Bronco’s name after being switched to centre. Good involvement with the ball and otherwise sound without it. 7

4 SOLOMONE KATA: A barnstorming two-try display from Sol, producing superb finishes for both of his meat pies. Hungry for work throughout – racking up 172 metres from 14 carries – and contained boom rookie Kotoni Staggs defensively. 8

3 PETA HIKU: Great response after rightfully copping it in the wake of last week’s shocker. Shifted to the wing and smashed out 164 metres, was faultless under the high ball and handled Jamayne Isaako well. Binned in the dying minutes. 8

6 BLAKE GREEN: Directed traffic in trademark style, kicking beautifully and had a fine try-assist for Paasi. One of his best in a great season. 8

7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Came under fire after the Penrith blowout but responded brilliantly. Bobbed up on both sides of the field and was a constant threat, featuring heavily in three of the Warriors’ five tries. Top-shelf display and the blueprint for what’s needed going forward. 8.5

8 JAMES GAVET: Made 90 metres and 23 tackles, though a couple of errors undid some of his good work with the ball. Solid enough. 6.5

9 ISSAC LUKE: A scintillating first-half performance from the evergreen rake, with the third of his line-breaks resulting in a crucial try. Had a key hand in the Warriors’ fourth try in a quieter second half but still finished with 93 running metres, as well as 27 tackles. 8.5

10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Best on ground. Paasi made three line-breaks, the second setting up a dazzling long-range try and the third put his name on the scoresheet after running a great line onto a Green pass. Finished with 21 tackles and 157 metres plus a try-assist in an effort that confirmed he should be one of the first forwards picked for New Zealand at the end of the year, should he swing that way eligibility-wise. 9

11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Came up big on the left edge, despite an error or two. Such a big body and knows how to use it, ploughing through 36 tackles and 104 metres in a real standout game. 7.5

12 SIMON MANNERING: That’s the Simon Mannering we know and love. His best 2018 performance by far, carving out stacks of post-contact metres in the first half. Topped the tackle count with 39 and had 15 runs for 136 metres. If that’s the standard for the rest of the year, the Warriors’ second-greatest player has re-emerged as a key piece in the club’s campaign. 8.5

13 ADAM BLAIR: One of his best of the year, getting through much more grunt work than usual (nine runs and 26 tackles) and involving himself heavily in the stuff not covered in the main stats categories. Great presence, lots of quality. Bombed a try, though. 7.5

14 JAZZ TEVAGA: The type of performance that had us frothing earlier in the year – huge impact with the ball and churned through 37 tackles. A roughie for the Dally M Interchange Player of the Year gong if he puts in a few more of those before the regular season is out. 8

15 CHRIS SATAE: Re-signed with the club after looking set to join the Storm and put in arguably his most impactful performance in first grade to celebrate. Knocked out 18 tackles and six big runs and was ludicrously unlucky to be sin-binned. 7

16 JOSEPH VUNA: Came on late and got busy. Keen to see more of this guy, but the balance of the bench selected today would have come under scrutiny if the Warriors hadn’t dominated. 5.5

17 ANTHONY GELLING: Another late cameo, doing little wrong and making a couple of strong runs. 5.5

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