Andrew Pelechaty reviews the New Zealand Warriors‘ win over the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles.
Result
New Zealand Warriors 29
Tries: (5) Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 11th, 16th, 50th; Tohu Harris 7th; Marata Niukore 72nd
Goals: (4) Adam Pompey 9th, 17th, 52nd, 73rd
One-Point Field Goal: (1) Shaun Johnson 78th
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 22
Tries: (4) Jason Saab 18th, 29th, 37th; Jake Arthur 1st
Goals: (3) Reuben Garrick 3rd, 30th, 39th
Report
Both sides wore heritage jerseys in this clash: the Warriors in their 2003 jerseys and Manly in their mid-90s “Pepsi” jerseys. Go Media Stadium (Mt Smart Stadium) was also renamed “Daniel Anderson Stadium” for this game to commemorate Daniel Anderson Round.
Former Parramatta Eel Jake Arthur scored for Manly in the first minute.
Tohu Harris scored in the seventh minute to level the game at 6-6.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored the first of his three tries, dotting down in the right corner with an athletic one-handed put down and nice tip on from Rocco Berry.
Watene-Zelezniak’s second try came five minutes later with a great individual run. Adam Pompey converted to give the Warriors a 16-6 lead.
Jason Saab started his hat-trick run with two tries in 11 minutes- both in the right corner – as Manly levelled up at 16-16.
Saab claimed his hat-trick just before the break: all three had come in the right corner. Reuben Garrick converted as Manly took a 22-16 half-time lead.
Watene-Zelezniak completed his hat-trick – also in the right corner – in the 50th minute. Pompey converted to tie the game at 22-22.
There was a crucial call in the 72nd minute when a Daly Cherry-Evans field goal was charged down. Garrick regathered the ball, but appeared to be tackled in the air, giving the Sea Eagles a seemingly easy penalty goal attempt. But Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s tackle was cleared as it was from a bouncing ball and not from a kick. Garrick’s knock on counted and the Warriors got the ball back.
The Warriors scored a few tackles after the scrum win, with Marata Niukore bursting through from 35 out. Pompey converted for a 28-22.
Shaun Johnson – as he’s done so many times before – sealed the win with a field goal.
The Warriors are now on the cusp on the top two (and almost assured of a top four finish), while Manly’s season is just about finished.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR POINTS
Embed from Getty Images3 – Dallin Watene-Zelezniak (Warriors)
2 – Jason Saab (Sea Eagles)
1 – Addin Fonua-Blake (Warriors)
