Yuck.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Led the team with 172 metres and came up with a line-break and try-assist in the dying seconds, but was unable to get involved in attack despite the Warriors’ mountain of good ball. That’s partly the fault of the Warriors’ other key players – but RTS is the captain and needs to demand the pill. 6
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Probably the Warriors’ most prominent player in attack, leading the team with seven tackle-breaks and coming up with some enterprising play. Should have had a brilliant try-assist but for Herbert’s blunder. Three errors is less than ideal but ran the ball back with vigour and had a team-high three offloads. 6
3 PATRICK HERBERT: Bombed a try that would have made the scored 6-4. Contributed little thereafter, finishing with six runs and eight tackles. Not ideal for an off-contract player with only 17 NRL games to his name amid a roster cleanout. 4
4 PETA HIKU: Ran for over 100 metres but struggled at the Sharks’ end on attack and recorded three missed tackles as well as four ineffective tackles as fullback Will Kennedy slipped past him for an early try and opposing centre Jesse Ramien bagged a second-half double. If the Warriors can somehow source a couple of quality centres, Hiku’s re-signing prospects may be on shaky ground. 4.5
5 KEN MAUMALO: Mentally, Big Ken’s bags are packed and stickered with ‘AKL’ in bold on them. Made just 138 metres on 17 runs – super-modest by his standards in an area that is his biggest strength – and his first-half stroll over for a try was cancelled out and then some by opposite Sione Katoa’s double. The soon-to-depart winger has been a shadow of the 2018-19 version aside from the last 41 minutes of the win over Brisbane. 5
6 KODI NIKORIMA: Laid on the Warriors’ only try of the first half and made a slicing line-break in the second stanza. But the bottom line is – particularly given his halves partner’s limitations – that Nikorima’s involvement level and reluctance to take ownership of the side’s direction and general attack is way below par. A defensive turnstile and a fairweather playmaker. 5
7 BLAKE GREEN: You have to feel sorry for the guy. Tries his guts out, gets next to no help from his so-called halves partner, and inevitably things fall apart for him under heavy fire. Several mistakes and misguided passes and was sin-binned, but kicked OK, ran the ball more times than Nikorima and racked up 22 tackles without a miss. 5
8 JAMAYNE TAUNOA-BROWN: A willing competitor but was dwarfed by the Sharks’ gigantic middle men. That rookie JTB is lumbered with the responsibility of being the Warriors’ lead yardage prop is an indictment on their prop stocks – even factoring in the Ah Mau and Afoa injuries. Toiled for nine runs and 28 tackles. 5.5
9 WAYDE EGAN: Has his supporters and TWL was willing to get on-board after a commanding contribution in the Brisbane win. Pretty disappointing in two games since. Topped the tackle count with 44 but missed four, while he did well to finish off a try at the death. 5
10 ADAM BLAIR: Shades of 2019 as the previously in-form veteran made just five runs and 16 tackles with four misses. Unsure why the Warriors’ senior forward – and one of their best so far this year – played just 27 minutes. Not a good look though after reportedly being told to clear out at the end of the season. 4
12 TOHU HARRIS: The classy back-rower’s worst showing since the restart. Tallies of 102 metres and 36 tackles were well down on his averages and barely made an impression on the match. Threw a loose pass to gift the Sharks their last try. 5
13 KARL LAWTON: Shouldn’t be a starting second-rower for the Warriors but got stuck in and led the forwards with 128 running metres, as well as clocking up 30 tackles and looking solid in a dummy-half stint. Has an error in him but a true competitor. 6
15 JACK HETHERINGTON: The Warriors’ standout by far. Came up with a couple of mistakes, but showed more passion and punch than any of his teammates after getting a late call-up to start at lock. Aggressive, busy and always looking for an offload, the Warriors should make Hetherington an offer he and the Panthers can’t refuse. 7
11 ELIESA KATOA: Played 63 minutes in his return from an injury layoff but his impact was limited. Still looks a cut above though. 5
17 JAZZ TEVAGA: A glimpse of the Jazz we became besotted with in 2018-19, reeling off 32 tackles and carting the ball up 12 times for 102 metres in 49 minutes. Good to see him in the thick of the push-and-shove – shows he cares about a team lacking drive. 6
14 AGNATIUS PAASI: Rocked Central Coast Stadium with a massive hit on contract reneger Toby Rudolf and racked up seven runs for 55 metres in a mere 19 minutes of game-time. 6
16 ISAIAH PAPALI’I: Four. The number that represented his runs tally and missed tackle count in 42 minutes on the paddock. The off-contract Papali’i is reportedly at loggerheads with the club over his role in the team and threatening to explore his options over it. There’s the door, ‘Ice’. 4
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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