The Late Mail: Dragons v Roosters
85 mins ago | LeagueUnlimited Media
Warriors strong-arm Manly to make it three straight
A spirited performance from the New Zealand Warriors has seen them record a third straight victory today, 18-16 over the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in front of 11,142 at Mt Smart Stadium.
Looking to consolidate a top four position as the important Origin period kicks in, Manly raced to an early 12-0 lead - tries to Justin Horo and Peta Hiku almost too easy to come by to have them two tries clear after a quarter of the match.
Already thick with penalties, the match turned in the Warriors favour with plenty of whistles blown to get the home side within striking distance of a comeback - and they took full advantage. Elijah Taylor stormed over in the 23rd minute, before Feleti Mateo set up Glen Fisiiahi for the Warriors' leveller in the 32nd. Shaun Johnson's boot ensured the hosts would go to the break level, converting both tries.
The second half saw neither side score a point until the 68th minute, with errors and penalties dominating the play and stopping any real flow. After the hour mark, New Zealand put sustained pressure on the Manly line, with the Eagles finally cracking when Konrad Hurrell crashed over.
Johnson's conversion with eleven remaining meant the Warriors would protect a six-point lead, but a try out wide to Manly hard-man Steve Matai brought the margin back to two. A must-kick sideline conversion from Jamie Lyon missed badly, leaving the visitors behind by two in the final minutes.
The scorers weren't troubled any further, with the Warriors denied a four-pointer in the final minute.
The Warriors will face a huge challenge to extend their winning run next Sunday night at Allianz Stadium when they visit the Roosters, while the Sea Eagles have a short turnaround to host Canterbury at Brookvale, who have just climbed into the top eight.
Match Details
New Zealand Warriors 18 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 16
Venue: Mt Smart Stadium
Crowd: 11142
Halftime Score: 12 all
LeagueUnlimited.com Players of the Match:
3 points - Feleti Mateo
2 points - Elijah Taylor
1 point - Justin Horo
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (18)
Tries: Elijah Taylor, Glen Fisiiahi, Konrad Hurrell
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (3/3)
MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES (16)
Tries: Justin Horo, Peta Hiku, Steve Matai
Conversions: Jamie Lyon (2/3)
LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary
Warriors: 2. Glen Fisiiahi 18. Ngani Laumape 3. Dane Nielsen 4. Konrad Hurrell 5. Manu Vatuvei 6. Thomas Leuluai 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Sam Rapira 9. Nathan Friend 21. Suaia Matagi 11. Feleti Mateo 12. Simon Mannering (C) 13. Elijah Taylor
Interchange: 14. Ben Matulino 15. Jacob Lillyman 16. Sebastine Ikahihifo 17. Dominique Peyroux
Sea Eagles: 1. Peta Hiku 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Jamie Lyon (c) 4. Steve Matai 5. David Williams 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Matt Ballin 10. Brent Kite 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Justin Horo 13. Glenn Stewart
Interchange: 14. Tom Symonds 15. James Hasson 16. Jamie Buhrer 17. George Rose
Interchange: 14. Ben Matulino 15. Jacob Lillyman 16. Sebastine Ikahihifo 17. Dominique Peyroux
Sea Eagles: 1. Peta Hiku 2. Jorge Taufua 3. Jamie Lyon (c) 4. Steve Matai 5. David Williams 6. Kieran Foran 7. Daly Cherry-Evans 8. Brenton Lawrence 9. Matt Ballin 10. Brent Kite 11. Anthony Watmough 12. Justin Horo 13. Glenn Stewart
Interchange: 14. Tom Symonds 15. James Hasson 16. Jamie Buhrer 17. George Rose
TEAM CHANGES
Warriors: Kevin Locke (hip flexor) and Russell Packer (sternum) are OUT for the hosts. Glen Fisiiahi moves from the wing to fullback, with #18 Ngani Laumape replacing "the Fish" on the wing. Packer is replaced by #21 Suaia Matagi who will start at prop.
Sea Eagles: The visitors are 1-17 as per the program, David Gower dropping off the five man bench. This means Anthony Watmough will successfully back up from his NSW Origin duties on Wednesday.
Warriors: Kevin Locke (hip flexor) and Russell Packer (sternum) are OUT for the hosts. Glen Fisiiahi moves from the wing to fullback, with #18 Ngani Laumape replacing "the Fish" on the wing. Packer is replaced by #21 Suaia Matagi who will start at prop.
Sea Eagles: The visitors are 1-17 as per the program, David Gower dropping off the five man bench. This means Anthony Watmough will successfully back up from his NSW Origin duties on Wednesday.
We are UNDERWAY at Mt Smart, Warriors have it first.
2 min: Great start for the Warriors, a penalty after 14 seconds and they go on the attack. A last tackle bomb to the wing of Vatuvei is tapped back to Nielsen... he goes for the line but then passes it forward as Vatuvei grounds it. Manly handover.
4 min: Manly get a repeat set but it doesn't amount to a whole lot, Warriors now with the ball coming out of their own end.
8 min: Manly get the penalty this time and they'll push at the Warriors line.
10 min: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Justin Horo. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
The Warriors fail to number up and Justin Horo finds the whole, strolling over almost untouched. Lyon adds the extras with no trouble.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6-0
Scored by Justin Horo. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
The Warriors fail to number up and Justin Horo finds the whole, strolling over almost untouched. Lyon adds the extras with no trouble.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 6-0
13 min: Manly getting it easy at the moment, poor discipline Warriors, another penalty. Sea Eagles with it inside the NZ half.
14 min: Manly force a drop out, Fisiiahi made to push a grubber dead.
17 min: VIDEO REFEREE - Peta Hiku in for Manly, but a question over obstruction. Who knows... roll the dice and.........
19 min: TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Peta Hiku. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Peta Hiku has been awarded the try despite a Warriors player being contacted by a decoy runner on the sliding play. Lyon converts.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12-0
Scored by Peta Hiku. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon successful.
Peta Hiku has been awarded the try despite a Warriors player being contacted by a decoy runner on the sliding play. Lyon converts.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12-0
23 min: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Elijah Taylor. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Warriors with back to back penalties... and then Elijah Taylor steps past several defenders and buries the ball into the turf near the post. Johnson converts.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12-6
Scored by Elijah Taylor. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Warriors with back to back penalties... and then Elijah Taylor steps past several defenders and buries the ball into the turf near the post. Johnson converts.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 12-6
26 min: Momentum completely with the Warriors now, they have a penalty just 20m from Manly's line.
32 min: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Glen Fisiiahi. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Feleti Mateo delivers a perfect pass to fool the Manly defenders and Glen Fisiiahi is the beneficiary of a great play. Johnson levels the scores with the conversion.
12 all
Scored by Glen Fisiiahi. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Feleti Mateo delivers a perfect pass to fool the Manly defenders and Glen Fisiiahi is the beneficiary of a great play. Johnson levels the scores with the conversion.
12 all
37 min: Steve Matai hit high, penalty Manly. Simon Mannering the offender.
39 min: Manly grubber it through on the last... and then Horo somehow knocks it dead instead of grounding it. Warriors 20m restart.
39 min: It's HALFTIME at Mt Smart, Warriors and Manly locked at 12-all.
41 min: Play restarts at Mt Smart, Manly with it first.
44 min: Manly force the dropout, good play from the visitors
45 min: Good defensive pressure from the Warriors sees Manly pass it straight over the touchline.
50 min: Clumsy stuff from the Warriors halfback there, Shaun Johnson rushing a play the ball and dropping it. Manly ball near halfway.
54 min: Warriors penalty brings them right inside Manly's danger zone...
60 min: Manly spill it inside their own half again. Warriors then drop it a moment later. Messy game at the moment.
63 min: Manly concede a penalty inside their own half but the Warriors elect to play on instead of going for goal. Warriors force a dropout.
66 min: Pressure continuing to mount from the Warriors, Manly defending stoically. Hiku trapped in-goal, another dropout.
69 min: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Konrad Hurrell. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Hurrell picks up a lazy pass out wide and beats three players including Anthony Watmough to score for the Warriors! Johnson converts for a six point lead.
New Zealand Warriors 18-12
Scored by Konrad Hurrell. Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Hurrell picks up a lazy pass out wide and beats three players including Anthony Watmough to score for the Warriors! Johnson converts for a six point lead.
New Zealand Warriors 18-12
71 min: Manly denied a try by the video referee, David Williams knocks on in goal trying to score.
75 min:
TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Steve Matai. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
Steve Matai scores out wide for the Sea Eagles! Game on! Lyon's conversion is almost embarrassing and sends Mt Smart into raptures. Manly trail by two.
New Zealand Warriors 18-16
TRY MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Scored by Steve Matai. Conversion attempt by Jamie Lyon unsuccessful.
Steve Matai scores out wide for the Sea Eagles! Game on! Lyon's conversion is almost embarrassing and sends Mt Smart into raptures. Manly trail by two.
New Zealand Warriors 18-16
77 min: Manly error as they push their way down the near touchline.
80 min: A late video referee decision denies the Warriors. Two tackles later and it's FULLTIME. The Warriors have triumphed and now have won three straight after their flogging at the hands of the Panthers in mid-May.