TWL gets out the big red pen after the Warriors’ exasperating 27-26 loss to the Bulldogs.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Broken record alert – RTS was by far the Warriors’ best. Ran more than 100 metres than anyone else on the field (262 from 23 carries), scored a try and defended superbly. If Rog misses out on the Dally M Medal by a point or two he can blame his teammates’ effort in this game, because he was a cert to grab three votes if they’d got away with the win. Still should have picked up a vote. 8
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Two brilliant finishes to take his season tally to 18 and stay in the hunt for the competition’s tryscoring title. Some great takes under pressure as well but was outjumped by Brett Morris for a vital Bulldogs try. 7
David Fusitu'a becomes the fastest Warrior to reach 50 tries.
He's done it in 77 matches.#NRLBulldogsWarriors pic.twitter.com/OnCyO5ko7v
— bet365_aus (@bet365_aus) August 19, 2018
3 GERARD BEALE: Fine finish to dot down for the first try and served up the pass for Fusitu’a’s first four-pointer. Solid outing. 6.5
4 SOLOMONE KATA: Some good charges but needed more of it, while he had trouble with Kerrod Holland and got tossed over the sideline early on. 5
5 KEN MAUMALO: Someone check Big Ken’s pulse – 11 hit-ups across 80 minutes is the equivalent of being in a coma compared to the general standard he has set across 2018. Allowing a Bulldogs line dropout to bounce into touch was arguably the turning point of the match. 5.5
6 BLAKE GREEN: Strong on attack in the first half but had a second-stanza shocker. Failed to step up when Johnson was struggling with injury and kicked poorly when he did try and take the initiative. Came off with a leg complaint in the latter stages. 5
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Laid on two tries and looked capable of tearing apart the Bulldogs every time he touched the ball but faltered in a few key moments with his last-tackle kicking. Huge defensively with 23 stops. 7
Do you think Shaun Johnson feels left out of the breathing exercise since he's always kicking the conversion? #NRLBulldogsWarriors
— вєηנανєят (@benjavert) August 19, 2018
8 JAMES GAVET: Ripped in for 102 metres and 20 tackles as the Warriors’ standout prop, with those decent numbers not quite telling the story of his sting and impact. A positive to come out of a largely negative outing. 7.5
9 ISSAC LUKE: Came into the game midway through the second half – particularly with one blistering line-break that eventually led to a try – but overall it was one of his least influential displays of a stellar year. 6
10 AGNATIUS PAASI: Churned through 20 tackles and 11 runs for 94 metres but not overly impressive. The Warriors were crying out for the sort of impact he supplied in Brisbane a few weeks back but it was a more tradesmanlike showing from ‘Iggy’. 5.5
11 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Only shaded by his skipper as the Warriors’ best, powering through a season-high 146 metres on 15 runs and offloading for RTS to score, as well as making 26 tackles. He is shaping up to be one of the greats. 8
Fellas feel free to join me in the Isaiah Papali'i fan club when you're ready
— Nick Campton (@campo37) August 19, 2018
12 ADAM BLAIR: A persistent threat running on the edge, coming close to scoring a couple of times and then producing the late equaliser for Peta Hiku with a bust and offload. Finished with 12 carries and 32 tackles in his most industrious performance of the season. 7
13 SIMON MANNERING: Great stats with a team-high 38 tackles along with 13 runs for 142 metres, but the enduring memory will be of a glaring goal-line miss on Bulldogs winger Reimis Smith. Did little else wrong but the retiring legend will be furious about that one. 6
14 JAZZ TEVAGA: Made a big difference off the bench and was probably the Warriors’ most dynamic forward, breaking tackles and producing plenty of offloads. Chewed out 25 tackles and 14 runs for 119 metres but made an error that cost the Warriors a valuable attacking chance. 7
15 LEIVAHA PULU: Came on, got stuck in with five runs for 48 metres. No complaints. 5.5
16 BUNTY AFOA: Solid enough with 14 tackles and eight runs for 69 metres. Questions need to be asked whether Bunty needs to be rotated into a starting role to shake things up for all three front-rowers, with Paasi and Afoa looking a little stale. 6
17 PETA HIKU: Chucked in for the injured Green in the dying minutes and backed up nicely to score a critical try. 6
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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