The New Zealand Warriors have fought hard to scrape a late win against Parramatta Eels 24-14 at ANZ Stadium.
MATCH DETAILS
Warriors started strong against a battling Eels side, controlling the opening stages heading into halftime 12-2. Momentum for the first 20 minutes of the second half was all Parra with another try coming along with the possession having the last moments close at 14-12. Errors piled on for Eels and was not long the Warriors were back on top to score two late tries and win 24-14.
FOUR POINTERS
WARRIORS TOUGH WIN
Wounded with injuries coming into this fixture New Zealand were positive from the start, young stand-in halfback Mason Lino had his side on a string with two try assistsย set up going 12-2 into halftime. A resurgence by Parra had the Warriors crawling to the finish line but errors and ill-discipline found the Eels in trouble with 15 minutes to go allowing two tries in for Warriors to put more pain on Parramatta’s year.
LINO LEADS
A late out during the week with Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck missing the flight to play Eels while halfback Shaun Johnson also out for an extended period. It was up to Mason Lino to steer the side around and get the New Zealand team a crucial away win, the halfback set up the opening two tries commanding the players around the park. Lino finished with 22 tackles with many of those on their goal line and a couple of line break assists aiding Warriors to their 4th away victory.
EELS SEASON OVER?
It was paramount that the Eels came away with a win this week to try and salvageย their season at all costs. Outperformed in the first half, down by two tries and a sin binย to Isaiahย Papali’i helped Eels to score just after the break. Momentum had swung after with the player had been binned with the scores 14-12 with 20 minutes still left, however, the old habits of the underperforming Parra side crept back. The Eels produced errors to allow the Warriors to finish off the job and win by 10. They are now 2 from 11 matches with an impossible task to make the finals.
NEGATIVE PLAY
The match was littered with negative plays including another questionable sin bin slowing the game down further. A combined total of 21 errors were produced throughout while an additional 18 penalties were called with the majority of those for players too quick off their goal line resulting in more frustration for viewers.
THE RESULT
Eels 14
Tries:ย Gutherson, Ma’u
Goals:ย Moses 3/3
Warriors 24
Tries:ย Fusitu’a, Hiku, Tevaga, Luke
Goals:ย Lino 4/5
SQUADS
Eels:ย 1 Clint Gutherson (c), 2 Bevan French, 3 Michael Jennings, 4 Brad Takairangi, 5 George Jennings, 6 Corey Norman, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Daniel Alvaro, 9 Cameron King, 10 Peni Terepo, 11 Beau Scott (c), 12 Tepai Moeroa, 13 Manu Ma’u
Interchange:ย 14 Will Smith, 15 Suaia Matagi, 16 David Gower, 17 Marata Niukore
Warriors :3 Peta Hiku,ย 2 David Fusitu’a, 18 Gerard Bealeย 4 Solomone Kata, 5 Ken Maumalo, 6 Blake Green, 7 Mason Lino,ย 16 James Gavet,ย 9 Issac Luke, 10 Agnatius Paasi, 16 Isaiah Papali’i, 12 Tohu Harris, 13 Adam Blair
Interchange:ย 8 Bunty Afoa, 14 Jazz Tevaga, 15 Chris Satae, 17 Simon Mannering
https://nothingbutleague.com/2018/05/18/report-penrith-panthers-16-2-wests-tigers/
