Brad Inger reviews the New Zealand Warriors clash with the Sea Eagles. Here’s how the match went.
MATCH TIMELINE
| Minute | Scoring Play | Score |
| 4th | Try Patrick Herbert (Warriors) | Warriors 4-0 |
| 11th | Try Eliesa Katoa (Warriors) | Warriors 8-0 |
| 12th | Goal Kodi Nikorima (Warriors) | Warriors 10-0 |
| 15th | Try George Jennings (Warriors) | Warriors 14-0 |
| 16th | Goal Chanel Harris-Tavita (Warriors) | Warriors 16-0 |
| 20th | Sin Bin Karl Lawton (Warriors) | |
| 21st | Try Tevita Funa (Sea Eagles) | Warriors 16-4 |
| 22nd | Goal Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) | Warriors 16-6 |
| 29th | Try Moses Suli (Sea Eagles) | Warriors16-10 |
| 39th | Try Patrick Herbert (Warriors) | Warriors 20-10 |
| 45th | Try Peta Hiku (Warriors) | Warriors 24-10 |
| 46th | Goal Patrick Herbert (Warriors) | Warriors 26-10 |
| 52nd | Sin Bin Jack Hetherington (Warriors) | |
| 55th | Try Haumole Olakau’atu (Sea Eagles) | ย Warriors 26-14 |
| 56th | Goal Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) | Warriors 26-16 |
| 65th | Try Jorge Taufua (Sea Eagles) | Warriors 26-20 |
| 66th | Goal Reuben Garrick (Sea Eagles) | Warriors 26-22 |
MATCH SUMMARY
1st Half
After a turbulent week, the Warriors showed they were at Lottoland to play, dragging Daly Cherry-Evans over the sideline on the first tackle of the match. After several six again calls Kodi Nikorima chipped into the in-goal on the fourth tackle, which Patrick Herbert caught in the middle of spectacular dive for the first try of the match. The Warriors kept the pressure on Manly and scored two more tried in quick succession through Eliesa Katoa and loan player George Jennings to see the Warriors push their lead out to 16-0. Manly bounced back with repeat sets and almost scored through Jake Trbojevic only for him to be held up over the line by Jazz Tevaga, Karl Lawton was ruled to have tackled Trbojevich before he had received the ball which saw the livewire hooker sent to the bin. This switch momentum in Manly’s favour as Tevita Funa scored moments later. Herbert knocked on a kicked defusal on the Warriors 10-meter line and Moses Suli strolled over from the scrum to reduce the Warriors lead to 6. Manly continued to dominate territory but struggled to keep hold of the ball in the poor conditions. The Warriors had one more chance as halftime loomed and they took it with both hands as Peta Hiku threw a near-perfect draw and pass for Herbert to touch down for his second try of the night, handing the Warriors a 20-10 lead at the break.
2nd Half
Despite a Des Hasler blowup at halftime, it was the New Zealand side the started the second half on the front foot, earning a repeat set after a nice kick into the in-goal. Moments later Nikorima was at it again pushing through a grubber for Hiku to dive on pushing the Warriors lead out further. A Martin Taupau linebreak put Cherry-Evans into open space, but he was unable to get the ball to Cade Cust who was rushing through. Jack Hetherington was sent to bin minutes later after rushing out of the line and hitting Taupau high in a tackle that saw the veteran forward escorted off the field with an HIA. Cherry-Evans chipped a kick to the corner with Reuben Garrick looking almost sure to score but lost the ball when he hit the ground. Manly kept the pressure on and scored through giant forward Haumole Olakau’atu. The Warriors looked to have bounced back with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck snatching a Herbert tap back to score but was correctly ruled to have been in front of the kicker. Both sides traded sets and errors until Cherry-Evans decided to run on the last and cut open the Warriors defensive line to put Jorge Taufua over in the corner to reduce the New Zealand sides lead to 4. A penalty against the Warriors in their own red zone gave Manly a chance to snatch a victory, but the Warriors defence was good enough to hold on, handing them a 26-22 victory and their first back to back victories this season.
GAME HIGHLIGHT
The highlight of the match was the moment when Peta Hiku scored his try off Nikorimas grubber. It was the Warriors last try of the night and was enough to keep them ahead. In the Warriors first match since Blake Green’s exit, there was plenty of pressure on Nikorima and his devasting with his kicks in this match. His combination with Chanel Harris-Tavita looks promising, and the Warriors keep themselves in the fight despite all the adversities they have faced this season. Manly will be disappointed and will be counting down the days until they get some of their key players back from the casualty ward.
SQUADS
New Zealand Warriors: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Patrick Herbert, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Peta Hiku, 5. George Jennings, 6. Kodi Nikorima, 7. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 8. Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, 9. Karl Lawton, 10. Jack Hetherington, 11. Eliesa Katoa, 12. Tohu Harris, 13. Jazz Tevaga, 14. Wayde Egan, 15. Adam Blair, 16. Daniel Alvaro, 17. Lachlan Burr
Manly Sea Eagles: 1. Brendan Elliot, 2. Jorge Taufua, 3. Tevita Funa, 4. Moses Suli, 5. Reuben Garrick, 6.Cade Cust, 7. Daly Cherry-Evans, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Danny Levi, 10. Martin Taupau, 15. Corey Waddell, 18. Haumole Olakau’atu, 13. Jake Trbojevic, 14. Lachlan Croker, 16. Sean Keppie, 17. Taniela Paseka, 20. Morgan Boyle
