Warriors too good for Eels at home

A second half comeback from the Eels was not enough to beat a strong Warriors team at Mt Smart Stadium this afternoon in front of 14,112 fans.

The Eels got off to a bad start with 4 penalties against them. Unable to hold out the Warriors after consecutive sets, the tired Eels defenders couldn't stop Hoffman from dummy half.

In the first half the Warriors were able to turn Parramatta's errors into points. A knock on by the Eels 30m out from their own line was the turning point in the first half. The Warriors were able to get two quick tries after that error and putting themselves out to a handy lead.

The Warriors attacked Parramatta's right-edge who was made up by an unexperienced pairing in John Falou and Ryan Morgan.

The Eels made things difficult for themselves in the first half through their ill-discipline and unforced errors. They went into the half time break with only 39% possession.

The Warriors came out in the second half and looked to be starting off where they finished the first half with a try after 7 minutes. Eels fans would have been forgiven for thinking this was going to be another 50 point thrashing.

Sam Tomkins went off with an injury not long later and the Eels were able to add insult to injury by going over for a 4-pointer.

The Eels continued to attack the Warriors right-hand side and it seemed to be paying off.

The second half comeback was too little too late for the Eels and Shaun Johnson was able to slot a drop kick over with 5 minutes to give the Eels no hope in winning.

Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend were much better for the Warriors this week and helped steer their team to a 13 point win.

The Warriors will now host Brisbane at home, while the Eels host the Rabbitohs at Pirtek Stadium next Friday.

LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Manu Vatuvei
2 points - Ryan Hoffman
1 point - William Hopoate

WARRIORS (29)
Tries: Ryan Hoffman, Solomone Kata (2), Tuimoala Lolohea, Manu Vatuvei
Field Goals: Shaun Johnson (1/1)
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (4/5)
Penalty Goals: Shaun Johnson (0/1)

PARRAMATTA EELS (16)
Tries: Brad Takairangi, Reece Robinson, David Gower
Field Goals:
Conversions: Reece Robinson (2/3)
Penalty Goals:

Welcome to the first Saturday game for Round 3. This afternoon the New Zealand Warriors host the Parramatta Eels at Mt Smart Stadium. The Warriors are 1-17 and the Eels only have one change with Vai Toutai making way for John Folau who will be making his debut for the Eels today.

1: And we're off! Lillyman taking the first hit up for the Warriors

1: Disappointing end to the first set for the Warriors with Johnson being tackled with the ball on the last tackle.

1: A little bit of push and shove after Lussick crowds the play the ball. Penalty to the Warriors

5: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Ryan Hoffman. Kick to come.
The Eels unable to hold out the Warriors after back-to-back penalties

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Straight over the black dot.

6: Peats down after getting a knock from Lillyman's shoulder

8: ANOTHER penalty to the Warriors. This one against Tim Mannah

9: We're going to the video ref for a possible try to the Warriors

10: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Solomone Kata. Kick to come.
And the video ref gives it the green light!

10: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
Shaun Johnson's first miss this season

12: Hopoate with a good take in goal off another Johnson torpedo bomb

13: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Anthony Watmough makes an unforced error.
Anthony Watmough hands the ball to the Warriors who are now in good field position

15: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Isaac De Gois makes an unforced error.
Another error for the Eels with De Gois not able to keep hold of a difficult Watmough offload

16: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Manu Vatuvei makes an unforced error.
Manu unable to hold onto the ball and the Eels would be relieved

17: The Eels get a penalty! A high tackle on Norman

19: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Tuimoala Lolohea. Kick to come.
Some lazy marker defence from the Eels sees Leuluai make a break from dummy half and sends Lolohea under the posts

19: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Easy conversion for Johnson from right in front.

20: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Kick to come.
Blink and you'll miss is! Another try for the Warriors. The Eels must be looking forward to half time!

22: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson makes that kick from the sideline look easy!

25: Another Eel down from a head knock. This time it's the back-up hooker, De Gois. Not a good day to be a Parramatta hooker

26: Folou drops a ball under pressure and Hoffman kicks the ball in touch. Lucky escape for the Eels there

28: Townsend giving his team a breather by kicking the ball into touch. Scrum to the Eels 10m out from their own line

29: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Brad Takairangi makes an unforced error.
Forward pass close to their line puts the Eels under pressure yet again

29: Another penalty to the Warriors after Norman crowds the play the ball

31: Great take by Norman to clean up a Johnson grubber right on their line. Eels now on the attack. Hopefully they can complete this set

34: Eels go close but Morgan is unable to get over the line on the last tackle

37: Going to the video ref for a possible penalty try to the Warriors after Hopoate stands his ground after Townsend kicks the ball

38: We have no try and it will be an Eels drop out. Eels to defend their line yet again

38: The end of the field the Eels are defending could end up looking like Brookvale last night. Warriors really putting the pressure on the Eels to defend

39: Joseph Paulo held up over the line.

39: Disappointing end to the set for the Eels with Norman kicking on the 3rd tackle and coming up with nothing

40: And that brings us to half time. I don't think the Eels will be rushing to get to the sheds

40: With a possession rate of 39% the Eels are lucky to only be down by 22. Warriors are converting the Eels errors into points and are looking good in attack.

40: Joseph Paulo down with a knee injury after taking the first hit up of the second half

40: Paulo ok to continue. Probably not the start the Eels were after though

42: The Eels look much better in their first set of the second half. Unable to break the Warriors defence though

42: Penalty to the Eels with Henry holding down Mannah. The Eels go on the attack 30m out

44: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Tim Mannah makes an unforced error.
The ref ruled Mannah knocks on, not too sure it was a correct call

44: And to add insult to injury, the Warriors get a penalty

44: TRY WARRIORS
Scored by Solomone Kata. Kick to come.
The Warriors start where they left off. Folau unable to diffuse the bomb and the Warriors score

47: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Another difficult kick from close to the sideline

49: Johnson kicks into clear space but an unlucky bounce for the Warriors sees the Eels come up with the ball

50: Tomkins off with an injury

51: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Brad Takairangi. Kick to come.
Good ball from Norman sends Robinson into space and was able to find Takairangi who gets the ball down over the line.

53: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Good first kick from Robinson

53: And we're off to the video ref for another possible try to the Eels. Warriors come up with a scrappy error right on their line

55: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by David Gower. Kick to come.
Video ref unable to find sufficient evidence to overrule the on-field decision

56: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson successful.
Easy conversion for Robinson

56: Tomkins has bruising on his left knee. Is off for precautionary reasons at the moment

57: Manu runs straight over some scrappy Eels defence and is stopped by Hopoate. Warriors on the attack in the Eels half

57: Good pick up by Hopoate but it may have come at a price. He's down injured at the moment

58: Don't worry Eels fans, Hopoate is up after a knee to the head and looks to be staying on the field

60: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Solomone Kata makes an unforced error.
A mistake from Kata puts the Warriors under pressure close to their line

60: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Tepai Moeroa makes an unforced error.
Moeroa knocks the ball on into a Warriors player. Warriors can breath a sigh of relief

62: Townsend gives his team a breather by kicking the ball into touch. Scrum to the Eels 10m out from their own line

63: A great ball from Ma'u sends Robinson down the touch line. We're off to the video ref for a possible try. This will be an amazing effort if it's a try

63: Looks as though Robinsons foot may have JUST touched the line. Lets see what the video ref comes up with

64: TRY PARRAMATTA EELS
Scored by Reece Robinson. Kick to come.
Some luck finally going the Eels way. Great effort from Robinson to get that try

65: Some fans in the background keeping us entertained while Robinson goes through his pre-kick ritual

65: UNSUCCESSFUL CONVERSION PARRAMATTA EELS
Conversion attempt by Reece Robinson unsuccessful.
Robinson unable to get the 2 points

66: UNFORCED ERROR PARRAMATTA EELS
Danny Wicks makes an unforced error.
Wicks drops the ball with a little help from the Warriors. Unlucky to not get a penalty there

66: Takairangi holds on too long and the Warriors get a penalty. Warriors decide to attempt the 2 points

68: UNSUCCESSFUL PENALTY GOAL WARRIORS
Penalty goal attempt by Shaun Johnson unsuccessful.
Hits the upright and bounces dead.

68: Some good defence from the Eels, driving Hoffman backwards

72: Johnson with a kick and chase and gets the bounce. Unable to get the 4 points but the Eels cough up the ball and the Warriors go on the attack 10m out

72: Penalty against the Eels for offside.

75: SUCCESSFUL FIELD GOAL WARRIORS
Field goal attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Field goal puts the Warriors 13 points in front and you would think gives them the game

75: Penalty to the Warriors for a strip.

76: UNFORCED ERROR WARRIORS
Ryan Hoffman makes an unforced error.
Hoffman loses the ball

77: Penalty to the Eels - looks like we're going to have a messy finish to the game

77: ...And we have another penalty to the Eels for a high shot on Wicks

78: Takairangi tries to find Robinson close to the line but finds Thompson instead

79: Townsend sends the ball into touch. Only 30 seconds left and the players have had enough. They're already shaking hands

80: The Warriors were able capitalise on the Eels errors and ill-discipline and got out to a 22-0 lead in the first half. The Eels came out in the second half a different team. Whenever they went to the left hand side they looked dangerous.
Shaun Johnson and Chad Townsend were great for the Warriors and were able to steer their team to a win in their first home game of the season.