Heroes galore in a courageous 18-12 Warriors win over the Saints – but it was a captain’s knock that attracted the highest score.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): An absolute master-class on both sides of the ball in the first half. Made a searing line-break and saved a try with an improbable defensive play, while he was safe at the back all day and finished with a game-high 222 metres. Still a big Dally M chance. 9
And if there’s one reason to like @NZWarriors come September … Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
— christian nicolussi (@mrchrisnico) August 4, 2018
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: For the usually-reliable ‘Fus’, this was easily his worst performance at NRL level. Coughed up a bomb, got hurled over the sideline and lost the ball on the first tackle in a horror 12 minutes, the latter two bungles costing tries to put the Warriors under the pump for the rest of the match. Good early but went into his shell after his rough patch. 5
3 GERARD BEALE: Much better than last week with some strong runs and important defensive efforts. Solid enough to hold his spot. 6.5
4 SOLOMONE KATA: Two tries in the first half lifted his stocks after taking some dreadful options in attack in the opening 20 minutes. Looked in trouble multiple times defensively up against Euan Aitken during the second half, but got through plenty of work in attack. 6
Ken Maumalo to Daryl Haligan
“I don’t get much ball on the edge” 😂😂😂😂 Just tell Kata to give you the ball and stop being greedy#NRLDragonsWarriors
— T24™ (@TFitzgerald24) August 4, 2018
5 KEN MAUMALO: Another monster performance from Big Ken. Ran the ball a colossal 21 times for 196 metres – particularly impressive while the Warriors were struggling in the second half – and pulled off some excellent clean-up and defensive plays near his own line. 8
6 BLAKE GREEN: A steady hand under duress, ran more than usual, defended well and a smart kicking game. A key role. 7
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Struggled to find his groove in attack though there were a few nice touches, but really good with the boot and reeled off 26 tackles. Solid in a game that didn’t exactly suit his strengths. 7
8 JAMES GAVET: A penalty and a bad missed tackle early on, but ran strongly (nine carries for 83 metres) during both stints on the field. A tally of 12 tackles when the opposition had 54 percent possession suggest he didn’t pull his weight without the ball. 5.5
9 ISSAC LUKE: A fine try, probed regularly from dummy-half and racked up 35 tackles. The Warriors are different team with him on deck – at least as important as RTS and SJ to their title chances. 7.5
The only certainties in life are death, taxes, Issac Luke scoring the second try when you back him in as first tryscorer, and the Warriors testing their fans' sphincters when holding a comfortable half time lead.#NRLDragonsWarriors#NRL
— Keith Miller (@keith_miller_nz) August 4, 2018
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Little bit anonymous during his first stint but finished very impressively from a ball-running perspective. 6
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Plays a Tohu Harris-type role while the Warriors await the champion back-rower’s return. Great offload for the first try, made 11 tough carries and his 33 tackles included a string of critical stops. First class. 7.5
15 SIMON MANNERING: Poor at lock last week but responded with an industrious display back on the edge. Finished with 37 tackles and 108 metres, second and first among the Warriors’ forwards. Nothing fancy but did what was required. 7
13 ADAM BLAIR: Surprised to see his tackle count finished at just 21 – almost all of them must have been an important stop near the Warriors’ line, because he was super-prominent. Fitting end to the game with Blairy demolishing Jason Nightingale and forcing a knock-on. Above-par eight runs to complement arguably his most important performance since joining the club. 8
The @NZWarriors have done it! #NRLDragonsWarriors #TelstraPremiership #NRL pic.twitter.com/ZW59ruJlY4
— NRL (@NRL) August 4, 2018
14 JAZZ TEVAGA: Panned last week after a bit of a shocker but silenced his bewilderingly big army of critics with a mammoth game. Brilliant offload to set up Luke’s try, made 50 tackles (13 more than any other player on the field) and led the Warriors’ forwards with 13 runs. When allowed to come off the bench and stay in his middle-forward role, Jazz is invariably one of the Warriors’ best. 8
Jazz Tevaga is quickly becoming my favourite @NZWarriors player. Plays beyond his size and has a great skill base
— Derek Callister (@derekmasuo) August 4, 2018
16 LEIVAHA PULU: Came on in the second half and made 13 tackles and five runs. Decent effort but nothing spectacular. 6
17 BUNTY AFOA: Very strong off the bench from Bunty, carting the ball up seven times for 77 metres and doing his job in defence. 7
21 SAM LISONE: Six tackles and three runs in an interchange showing that didn’t exactly catch the eye. Dubious at best whether he deserves a spot ahead of Chris Satae. 5
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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