Marks out of 10 for a courageous short-handed effort in a 28-24 loss to Souths on the Sunshine Coast.
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (c): Our minds would be blown if his superhuman performances weren’t so predictable. A couple of mistakes but an individual try, a game-high 213 metres, two line-breaks and 11 tackle-breaks solidified TWL‘s contention that our skipper is the best player in the NRL. 8.5
“I’m calling it now – Roger Tuivasa- Sheck will win back to back Dally M medals! He is toying with the Rabbitohs & is like a man playing against boys,” Clinton Schifcofske for @abcgrandstand NRL #NRLRabbitohsWarriors
— Zane Bojack (@zanofc) April 13, 2019
2 David Fusitu’a: Some good work under the high ball but not his best performance. Struggling to gel with Kata on attack. 6
20 Gerard Beale: The drums will beat for the journeyman to replace Kata – he look pretty slick and solid despite not chalking up overly impressive numbers. Not as dynamic as you’d like, but a more rounded player than the Warriors have been fielding in the centres. 6.5
4 Solomone Kata: Came up with some outstanding defensive plays, but also a couple of lamentable misses and an error or two. Can’t pin Walker’s four-try haul on him but he certainly wasn’t blameless and 36 run metres was a glaring stat for the one-time wrecking ball. Last pass for Lisone’s try. 5.5
If Solomone Kata plays another game after Cody Walker scoring four tries it'll be conformation he has incriminating photos of Stephen Kearney #NRLSouthsWarriors
— dermot (@bigredburner0) April 13, 2019
5 Ken Maumalo: Targeted by Souths’ kickers and came up trumps all but once. Carted it up for 141 metres – including a game-high 45 post-contact – to underline his value to the Warriors in a tough game. Maturing into a quasi-leader in this side’s ranks. 7
3 Peta Hiku: Chucked into pivot at the last minute and came up with some big early defensive efforts and made a second-half line-break. His attacking game fell away in the second half and he came up with a few defensive misses, which is perhaps understandable given he was worked over for 34 tackles. 6.5
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita: A few missteps with the ball but we reckon we’re watching the club’s future unfold before our eyes. Confident, composed and a dangerous ball-runner with genuine game-breaking chops. Had a try-assist and was denied another by the video ref. But most impressive was his courageous defence – 17 tackles with no misses, including some massive stops on the likes of Sam Burgess and several great reads. Without Green, this was a pretty special effort. 8
8 Agnatius Paasi: Easily his most prominent display of the year, burning through 12 runs for 117 metres and 20 metres. Encouraging after a slow start to 2019. Injury a concern. 6.5
Agnatius Paasi went off shortly after this tackle with a left knee injury. Was able to play on momentarily. Video very limited, some concern for MCL injury with ACL possible but less likely with way tackler landed on back of his leg. Fingers crossed only minor #NRLSouthsWarriors pic.twitter.com/cMivr2Ysmt
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) April 13, 2019
22 Issac Luke: Good first stint but didn’t last long in his second. No complaints, but the Warriors will be better for having a fully-fit ‘Bully’ playing 65 minutes plus per game. 6
10 Leeson Ah Mau: Stood up to the big Souths pack with 11 carries for 93 metres and 30 tackles with just one miss. Real presence in the middle today. 7
11 Adam Blair: Topped the tackle count with 37 (with a couple of glaring misreads that led to Souths tries) and seemed involved – most notably producing an offload in the lead-up to Lisone’s try. On the debit side, two runs for 17 metres in 80 minutes on the field plus an error against his name. Hard to know what to make of that, really. 5
12 Tohu Harris: The best player on the field by far and one of the most dynamic performances by a Warriors second-rower we can recall since Ali Lautiiti’s heyday. Stats of 12 runs for 117 metres, 34 tackles and a try don’t tell the story – his footwork on attack was magnficent and his clean-up work in defence was invaluable. Wouldn’t trade him for any other. 9
13 Lachlan Burr: Responding to the faith shown by Kearney with interest. Racked up 11 runs for 111 metres and his 33 tackles included a number of important stops, but his second-phase was the most prominent feature. One of his four offloads gave Tevaga the opportunity to score his try. Not that we play, but apparently he’s a Supercoach stud. 8
Lachlan burr the NPR that keeps on giving #NRLsupercoach
— John Homsi (@ESDRLtillidie) April 13, 2019
14 Jazz Tevaga: Similar to last week, all but five minutes of his game-time came at dummy-half and he performed admirably. Racked up 33 tackles and six runs for 64 metres, as well as scoring a doggedly determined first-half try. 7.5
15 Isaiah Papali’i: Good energy and work-rate off the bench with 93 metres and 27 tackles in 49 minutes. Made a difference. 7
16 Bunty Afoa: Continues to deliver, peeling off 116 metres on 10 carries and 30 tackles in a first-rate display. Probably only behind RTS for consistency across the first five rounds. 7.5
17 Sam Lisone: Some say he was lucky to walk straight back into the team after a two-week suspension, but the oft-maligned Lisone made his 15 minutes count with four runs for 53 metres – including a barnstorming try, just his second in first grade. 6
Sam Lisone’s first touch. Slams it down over the line – TRY! #WeAreWarriors
— Vodafone Warriors (@NZWarriors) April 13, 2019
Sam Lisone finishes off an incredible team effort 👊#NRLSouthsWarriors#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/ShN8LD9XAS
— NRL (@NRL) April 13, 2019
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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