Warriors outplay Benji-less Tigers

Fulltime score:
Round 3
New Zealand Warriors 26 v Wests Tigers 10

Match summary:

The New Zealand Warriors have created their first win of the new season by defeating the rusty West Tigers 26-10 in cold conditions at Jade Stadium.

The first half started of with a tonne of errors from both teams, but the Warriors were the first team to put the points on the board with a nicely worked try to Jerome Ropati. Another try was on the horizon as Brent Webb capitalised on some nice work from birthday boy George Gatis who found some lazy defenders around the ruck area. Clinton Toopi scored the last try of the half and the Tigers found themselves in all sorts of trouble at half time with the score at 14-0.

The second half started the way Tim Sheens would of liked for it to start with the Tigers getting on the board first with rookie Michael Crockett scoring right on the touch line. However the Tigers continued to turn the ball over and the Warriors punished them with a quick try to big Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei. When Awen Guttenibeil crossed in the 61 minute mark the game was all but over, with the Tigers scoring a late try to Daniel Fitzhenry.

Steve Price and Rubin Wiki were very strong up front for the Warriors, while George Gatis was very strong out of that dummy half position causing all sorts of troubles for the Tigers. Clinton Toopi terrorized the Tigers defence out wide as did winger Manu Vatuvei and fullback Brent Webb.

Not too many shining lights for the Tigers with Brett Hodgson being the only player who looked dangerous with ball in hand. The Tigers looked lost without Benji Marshall at five eight and Robbie Farah at hooker and if tonight?s performance is any indication, the Tigers will struggle for the next few weeks without those key players.

Scorers:

Wests Tigers: 10
Tries: Daniel Fitzhenry, Michael Crockett
Goals: Brett Hodgson 1/2
New Zealand Warriors: 26
Tries: Awen Guttenbeil, Jerome Ropati, Clinton Toopi, Manu Vatuvei, Brent Webb
Goals: Tony Martin 3/5

Sat 6:30pm(NZ) 5:30pm(Syd) 25 Mar 2006
Jade Stadium NZ
Referee: Paul Simpkins

Live commentary
Welcome to Jade Stadium for a battle between the West Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors. The Warriors are looking for their first win of the season while the Tigers are trying to find a win with some key players missing.

One change with Bronson Harrison on the Tigers bench in replace of Sam Harris.

KICK OFF: We are underway here at Jade Stadium with the Warriors kicking off.

5 min: NEWS Some early mistakes from both teams. Warriors have been in a good position to score on a few occasions but have turned the ball over both times.

10 min: NEWS Ryan O'Hara gives the Warriors a cheap penalty and the Warriors find themselves in good field position

11 min: VIDEO REF - Decision for a Manu Vatuvei try. Video Referee looking to see if the big Kiwi winger has planted the ball down. Held up is the decision and the Warriors continue their set on the 10m line.

15 min: TRY New Zealand Warriors
Good set move from the Warriors sees the pivot Jerome Ropati go into score. Warriors looking the good early on in this match with them having plenty of possession.
Tony Martin misses the kick from a difficult angle.
Warriors 4-0

24 min: TRY New Zealand Warriors
George Gatis sets up a nice try for the Warriors fullback Brent Webb. Gatis spotted some lazy defenders around the ruck area and found a supporting Brent Webb to put the Warriors up by two tries.
Conversion successful from Tony Martin
Warriors 10-0

29 min: NEWS Tigers making to many simple mistakes right now. They are playing without confidence and the Warriors have a huge roll of momentum with them at the moment.

30 min: NEWS Rookie winger Michael Crockett drops a high bomb from Nathan Fien. The Warriors looking for more points with the Tigers looking very vulnerable

35 min: TRY New Zealand Warriors
Another try to the Warriors, this time to the centre Clinton Toopi. Soft defence from the Tigers with 3 players not being able to stop Clinton Toopi.
Conversion missed from Tony Martin.
Warriors 14-0

38 min: NEWS Another mistake from the Tigers, this time from Paul Whaturia. The Warriors looking for one more try to close this first half of football.

HALF TIME: New Zealand Warriors 14 - West Tigers 0

Very dissapointing first half from the Premiers here at Jade Stadium. They have hardly been in a good position to post points with them turning the ball over constantly. The Warriors have played fairly well but need to keep it going to go on with the victory.

Possession: Tigers 40% - Warriors 60%
Completion: Tigers 11/19 - Warriors 18/24
Missed Tackles: Tigers 26 - Warriors 2
Tackles: Tigers 162 - Warriors 105
Errors: Tigers 9 - Warriors 6

Second Half underway here at Jade Stadium!!

46 min: NEWS A oppurtunity for the Tigers is gone with Dean Collis knocking the ball on 5m away from the Warriors try line.

48 min: VIDEO REF - Possible try to Michael Crockett in the corner. Video Ref looking to see if the rookie has put a foot in touch.

48 min: TRY Wests Tigers
Michael Crockett picks up his second try in his NRL career. The Tigers find the Warriors short down the blindside and Michael Crockett sneaks in to find the try line.
A fantastic conversion from Brett Hodgson from the sideline.
Warriors 14-6

52 min: TRY New Zealand Warriors
A nice break from Clinton Toopi who suckers in Brett Hodgson with a nice dummy then finds the big winger Manu Vatuvei to score next to the posts.
Tony Martin converts from in front of the posts
Warriors 20-6

55 min: VIDEO REF - Another video referee decision for Phil Cooley. The question is weather Louie Anderson grounded the ball or if he was short or even knocked the ball on. Decision is that Anderson lost the ball in attempting to ground the ball.

55 min: NEWS The Tigers throw away a golden opportunity with halfback Reynolds throwing a forward pass to captain Hodgson close to the line.

61 min: TRY New Zealand Warriors
A barnstorming try from Awen Guttenbeil nearly seals the victory for the Warriors here at Jade Stadium. Guttenbeil palmed off John Skandalis and Brett Hodgson with ease to get a 4 pointer.
Tony Martin converts the try.
Warriors 26-6

69 min: NEWS A drop-a-thon here at Jade Stadium now. The Warriors playing some silly football with nothing to lose, while the Tigers are throwing the ball around in hope for a try.

71 min: NEWS VIDEO REF - Another possible try to the Warriors. Manu Vatuvei is claiming the try and the question is weather he knocked the ball on from a Nathan Fien bomb. No try is the decision and a the ball is turned over to the West Tigers.

74 min: TRY Wests Tigers
A video referee decision goes to the Tigers with 6 to go. Some good ball movement followed by a nicely weighted kick sees Fitzhenry score a fine try. All little to late from the Premiers.
Hodgson misses his first kick of the evening.
Warriors 26-10

FULL TIME - New Zealand Warriors 26 def West Tigers 10

The Warriors have won comfortably against a dissapointing Tigers team. Birthday boy George Gatis was solid from the dummy half position, while the two big men up front in Wiki and Price were fantastic up the middle. Clinton Toopi looked dangerous out wide as did Manu Vatuvei. The Tigers dropped too much ball and looked lost without their star five eight Benji Marshall. Next week the Tigers have the Storm at home, while the Warriors travel to Newcastle to tackle the red hot Knights.

Possession: Tigers 45% - Warriors 55%
Completion: Tigers 24/38 - Warriors 29/43
Missed Tackles: Tigers 40 - Warriors 18
Tackles: Tigers 301 - Warriors 250
Errors: Tigers 16 - Warriors 14
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Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 - Ruben Wiki
2 - Clinton Toopi
1 - Steve Price
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