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At FMG Stadium, Hamilton: Tigers 22 (Starford To’a 16 min, Luke Brooks 18 min, Daine Laurie 57 min, Starford To’a 77 min tries; Apisai Koroisau 3 goals). Warriors 30 (Luke Metcalf 6 min, Adam Pompey 13 min, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 32 min, Tohu Harris 49 min, Addin Fonua-Blake 76 min tries; Shaun Johnson 2 goals, Pompey 3 goals). HT: 12-16
On report: David Nofoaluma (Tigers), Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors)
The Warriors are edging closer to a top four finish on the NRL ladder, but their performances continue to be concerning as the business end of the season approaches.
They defeated Wests Tigers 24-18 at FMG Stadium in Hamilton on Saturday night, but it was another game where they went through bad patches and made too many errors, something they won’t be able to do when they move into finals footy.
The Warriors were up 12-0 after 13 minutes and against a team that’s heading towards picking up its second wooden spoon in as many years, they shouldn’t have let the Tigers get back into the game as much as they did.
Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has scored a number of spectacular tries this season, but his one against the Tigers on Saturday night was perhaps his best.
It’s fortunate for the Warriors they’re going through a run of games where they’re playing teams down the bottom of the ladder, because performances like this against top sides would result in depressing outcomes for Warriors fans.
However, they can bag the two points and look for improvements for Friday’s game against the Sea Eagles at Mt Smart Stadium.
This was officially a Tigers home game, but that was in name only as the stadium was packed out with Warriors fans, eager to see them continue this season’s success.
The last time the Warriors played an NRL game in Hamilton was against the Dragons in 2017, just 11,108 turned up on that occasion. This time is was a 25,118 sell out.
It took seven minutes for the Warriors to stamp their mark on the game, with Mitch Barnett making a break in the middle of the field, the speedy prop then offloading to Luke Metcalf for the try.
Seven minutes later Adan Pompey went in for the Warriors’ second try, as the centre benefitted from a wonderful pass by Shaun Johnson, who delayed it just enough for the gap to open for Pompey.
Bruce Lim/Photosport
Tigers halfback Luke Brooks finished off a long-range try for Wests Tigers.
Soon after the Tigers had back to back sets close to the line and from that pressure Starford To’a scored.
Luke Brooks grabbed another try straight from the kickoff, with Daine Laurie making the initial break, so all of a sudden the Warriors’ 12-0 had become 12-12.
In the 22nd minute the Tigers’ David Nofoaluma was put on report for putting his forearm into the neck of the hooker as he was attempting to make a tackle, which resulted in Egan needing to go to hospital and Bayley Sironen moving into dummy half.
All this helped take momentum away from the Warriors, but it came back in style when Dallin Watene-Zelzniak scored one of his most impressive tries of the season, launching himself into the air to scorn in the corner as Asu Kepaoa attempted to force him out.
Warriors captain Tohu Harris scored the Warriors’ fourth try nine minutes into the second half, but the Tigers’ exceptionally talented young fullback Jahream Bula set up a 70m attack that was finished off by Laurie.
An indicator of how much of a struggle this was for the Warriors came in the 68th minute when they went for penalty kick, rather than attempt to score a try, but it did stretch their lead to six points. Before the game ended Addin Fonua-Blake and Starford To’a tries for each team.
AT A GLANCE
The big moment
Shaun Johnson’s penalty kick in the 68th minute was hardly the most exciting moment in the game. It gave the Warriors a six-point cushion but demonstrated a lack of confidence in the team.
Match rating
8/10: Light rain in the first half did make the ball slippery and lowered the quality levels, but this was a gripping game with the Tigers refusing to go away.
MVP
It was a mammoth game from Addin Fonua-Blake as he scored a try to win the game and carried the ball for an incredible 262 metres.
The big picture
If the Knights lose to the Bulldogs on Sunday, the Warriors are confirmed for a spot in the top eight, regardless of what happens over the remainder of the season.
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