Warriors v Tigers result: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck shines as Warriors ...
But the Warriors weren’t to be denied their first win since round 17′s triumph over the Brisbane Broncos.
There were strong performances across the park from the hosts. Addin Fonua-Blake, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck caused problems for the Tigers all evening. The latter two getting good metres on kick returns – something the Warriors struggled for in last week’s loss to Canberra. Returning to fullback due to injuries across the club, Tuivasa-Sheck also saved two tries with his scrambling defence, beating Tigers backs to attacking kicks, and made plenty of defenders miss with his footwork.
The halves also had plenty of good touches - Te Maire Martin’s hesitation ball at the line to send Ali Leiataua over late in the first half the pick of them – though most of them came in the first 40 minutes as the Warriors struggled to find attacking field position as regularly.
At the half hour mark, it was starting to feel like the Warriors might rue some missed opportunities as they only had four points from a Kurt Capewell try to show for their work.
That changed when Ed Kosi went over out wide, before a bad error from the Tigers welcomed the Warriors back onto the attack and Martin worked some magic for Leiataua. Harris-Tavita slotted the ensuing conversion – getting a big cheer from the 23,976-strong crowd as he grinned his way back into the line.
Leading the game 14-0 at the break, there seemed no reason the Warriors couldn’t go on with the job. However, it was the Tigers who got the most enjoyment out of the 20-minute period following the break as they found metres much easier to come by and that saw them cross first through former Warriors forward Isaiah Papali’i, then wing Charlie Staines as they closed the gap to just four points with plenty of time to play.
But the tide turned again. The Warriors regained their footing as Fonua-Blake, Dylan Walker and Marata Niukore returned to the field for their second stint.
A Harris-Tavita penalty pushed the lead back to six, before Fonua-Blake and Watene-Zelezniak scored to push the result beyond doubt, though Apisai Koroisau scored a late consolation try for the Tigers.
It was a win the Warriors needed as they look to try and break their way into the top eight in the coming weeks.
Next Friday’s clash against the Parramatta Eels (16th) the only other fixture they’ll have against a side outside the top eight for the remainder of the season – with the Redcliffe Dolphins, Manly Sea Eagles, Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks awaiting on the home stretch.
Warriors 28 (Kurt Capewell, Ed Kosi, Ali Leiataua, Addin Fonua-Blake, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak tries; Chanel Harris-Tavita 3 cons, pen)
Wests Tigers 16 (Isaiah Papali’i, Charlie Staines, Apisai Koroisau tries; Koroisau 2 cons)
HT: 14-0
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
