Marks out of 10 for the Warriors after a comprehensive season-opening win over the Titans in Gosford.
1 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK (c): Certainly not vintage Roger, but it didn’t need to be. Marshalled and cleaned up from the back well, racked up 174 metres on 19 tough carries. Would’ve loved what he saw from the boys in front of him. 7
2 DAVID FUSITU’A: Missed a chance to grab an aerial try back was excellent under the high ball at the Warriors’ end and ran for 111 metres on 14 runs. A couple of dusty moments on defence as opposite – and sole Titans tryscorer – Corey Thompson caused some problems. 6
3 EUAN AITKEN: Didn’t get much of a chance on attack but couldn’t have been much more impressive otherwise, carving out 132 metres on 13 carries and 16 tackles without a miss. Quality debut. 7
4 PETA HIKU: A workhorse with the ball, taking up the ball an equal team-high 19 times for 136 metres. But the occasional defensive liability’s work without the ball was more striking, repeatedly shutting down Titans big-name recruit forward strike weapons David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Quite phenomenal. 8
5 KEN MAUMALO: An industrious 167 metres from 18 carries in Big Ken’s first match since July, though he did cough up the pill a couple of times. 6.5
6 KODI NIKORIMA: Did the lion’s share of the kicking – forcing two line dropouts – and ran for 81 metres and made 23 tackles. Drifted in and out but backing up to score the match-sealing rendered the match a quiet triumph for Kodi. 7
7 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Couldn’t love this kid any more. A defensive terrier, always eager to dig into the line, kicked well and put on a nice short ball for Bunty to lay on Kodi’s try. Not bad for a guy who got no trial action. 7.5
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE: Man have we picked up a quality player here. A whopping 202 metres from 19 runs (94 post-contact), four offloads, 22 tackles with just miss and a constant momentum-changer. One of the best in the NRL and how good is it that he’s ours? 8
9 WAYDE EGAN: Understated but solid. Ran five times from dummy-half and chalked up 30 tackles in a game he seemed set to miss through injury. Slick. 6
10 JAMAYNE TAUNOA-BROWN: The numbers (9 runs for 60 metres and 20 tackles) perhaps don’t reflect the quality of JTB’s efforts – a worthy starter, coming up with some hard-hitting defensive plays. 6.5
11 ELIESA KATOA: Played 62 minutes despite recovering from cheekbone surgery, making 10 runs for 99 metres and chalking up 23 tackles. A handful every time he carried. 6.5
12 BAYLEY SIRONEN: Crashed over for the first try and reeled off 37 tackles in a quality club debut. We’ve picked up a good’un here. 7
13 TOHU HARRIS: Standard 2020 Tohu, playing the full 80 and making 15 runs for 128 metres and a team-high 43 metres. So good we’ve got him till 2024. 7.5
14 JAZZ TEVAGA: If he’s not your favourite Warrior, he’s probably your second-favourite. A workhorse, a terrier, an agitator. Looked good in the middle and at dummy-half, finishing with 10 runs for 101 metres and 37 tackles, as well as the last pass for LAM’s try. 7.5
15 BEN MURDOCH-MASILA: Probably the least eye-catching of the Warriors’ recruits. Solid nonetheless with five runs for 64 metres and 12 tackles in 32 minutes. 6
16 LEESON AH MAU: Rousing return for the veteran after missing almost all of 2020. Scored his first try for the Warriors – and just his seventh in 206 NRL games – with a powerhouse charge close to the line, trucked it up 10 times for 72 metres and made 29 tackles without a miss. 8
17 BUNTY AFOA: Another injury return success story. In just 25 minutes, big Bunty ran for 82 metres on eight carries, made 14 tackles and laid on Nikorima’s try. 7.5
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
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