Marks out of 10 for the Warriors’ controversial 22-14 loss to an officials-assisted Roosters outfit.
1 Reece Walsh: The Warriors’ most dangerous player and arguably their best on the day. Constantly pushing up on attack and went largely unrewarded – including almost scoring a try before having the ball stripped but having it called a knock-on – until producing a breath-taking try-assist with a line-break and kick to keep his team in the game. Some great defence as well, though he had some shaky moments at the back with three errors. Ran for 138 metres and had six tackle-breaks. 7.5
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak: Struggled to make an impression helping the Warriors out of their own end (13 runs for 102 metres) and came up with two errors. Earned a highlight with his sensational Walsh-assisted try. 6
3 Jesse Arthars: Just six runs for 55 metres, gave away two penalties and his edge looked shaky at times. Not his best work. 5
4 Adam Pompey: Quality try-assist for Kosi and was the backline’s best metre-eater out of trouble with 16 carries for 131 metres, while also keeping Joey Manu quiet. Strong response to a below-par showing against the Cowboys. 7
5 Edward Kosi: Eventful first half, finishing off his second NRL try, coming up with a horrible error to wreck an attacking chance and producing two excellent in-goal escapes – the latter earning him an HIA break due to a Radley high shot. Spent only four minutes off the park but barely featured in the second stanza. Finished with 12 runs for 79 metres, the Roosters’ line speed proving a big challenge for his early-set carries. 6
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita: Beautiful hand in Kosi’s try, some outstanding defence and willing to regularly take the defensive line on. Another positive step forward, bouncing back from an early error after points. 7
7 Shaun Johnson: Mostly first-rate kicking game short and long, particularly when the Warriors were battling to run the ball out of their own half. But disappointing overall from an attacking point of view, aside from the option to feed Walsh on the last in the lead-up to DWZ’s try. Would be great to see him rove more and play with some space and width – as he did at Cronulla – rather than sticking to that narrow right-edge corridor. Bad, bad defensive miss as Sam Walker scored. 5.5
8 Addin Fonua-Blake: Led from the front once again with 16 runs for a team-high 146 metres in a powerhouse 63-minute effort. Awesome first-half break that went close to being rewarded with a try and was responsible for most of his six tackle-breaks, while he reeled off 29 tackles without a miss. The error recorded against his name was a disgrace, with his captain’s challenge farcically knocked back after the ball was stripped. 8
9 Wayde Egan: Fairly solid but unremarkable display from the rake on first watch – didn’t get his running game going, chalked up 44 tackles and gave typically sound dummy-half service. Lovely piece of deception for Walsh to all but score. (Side note: would love to see Egan’s no-look pass per game stats this year compared to 2020-21 – he’s shelved that polarising part of his game.) 6.5
16 Aaron Pene: Got his first start and was strong in the face of a tough, rushing Roosters defence. Less prominent after returning from an HIA but racked up 93 metres on 13 carries and 27 tackles. Certainly happy with him starting after some inconsistent showings from Lodge this season. 7
11 Euan Aitken: Played the full 80 again and was decent, without standing out as he did against the Cowboys. Ran the 13 times for 83 metres and made 28 tackles. 6.5
12 Bayley Sironen: Some penetrative runs when he injected himself and seems to like combining with SJ – but it didn’t happen often enough, finishing with eight runs for 57 metres in 62 minutes. Notched 30 tackles. 6
13 Josh Curran: In the wars all afternoon and showed resolve to only spend 10 minutes off the paddock. Super hardworking (16 runs for 100 metres and 44 tackles) without making his usual impact against the club he debuted for in 2019. 7
14 Kodi Nikorima: Given 17 minutes at dummy-half, ran the footy a couple of times and ma5de 10 tackles. 5
15 Bunty Afoa: Decent numbers in 42 minutes – eight runs for 65 metres and 26 tackles with no misses. A consistent performer in 2022 in the Leeson Ah Mau mould, with the capacity to make more impact. 6.5
17 Eliesa Kaota: Made an immediate impression on both sides of the ball, but ultimately made only five runs in 33 minutes. A busy lad on defence with 28 stops. 6
18 Taniela Otukolo: Odd inclusion on the bench with a prop ruled out, and ultimately one that didn’t really pay off – though that’s not Otukolo’s fault. The specialist hooker spent 18 minutes on the field as a running forward, taking the ball up five times for 32 metres and making 12 tackles. 5.5
Categories: Previews + Reviews, WARRIORS NEWS
Leave a Reply