TWL RD 10: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
Incongruously, the final scoreline was among the few positives for the Warriors to cling to after the mother of all diabolical starts in a 38-18 Mother’s Day loss to Sydney Roosters – their fourth in a row as a campaign that promised premiership contention continues its descent into also-ran oblivion.
The Roosters frolicked to a 22-0 lead after 14 astonishing minutes in an opening that not even day-oners have endured previously.
From that point, the rivals scored three tries apiece – and the Warriors deserve some credit for preventing an embarrassing avalanche.
But the Roosters, understandably, played like they thought they could score from every set for the last 65 minutes and switched to Sevens mode with the Warriors’ defence patchier than the water-ravaged Allianz Stadium turf. The Warriors were unmistakably spared by their opponents’ lack of ruthlessness.
Then again, the Warriors were busted from early on. Shaun Johnson soldiered on for an age with a very worrying injury that could all but rub out any chances of a Top 8 charge. Warriors reeling out of tackles in distress was an almost on-the-minute occurrence. But they still showed enough heart and moxy to conjure a few tries that were as hard-earned as any they’ve scored this year.
Boil it all up, let it rest and serve it to the fanbase, though, and there’s no question the Warriors are again in a considerably worse position than they were a week ago for the fifth consecutive round.
Nathan Cleary’s six-to-eight-week injury is barely a ripple of respite ahead of Magic Round, such is the Warriors’ form spiral and growing casualty ward. The injury factor has been completely overblown when pontificating over the reasons for their recent slump – they had a shitload of injuries during the first half of 2023 but managed to regroup and chalk up wins – but they will struggle to win a game without SJ, who seems certain to be joined by Walker and potentially others on the sidelines.
The stark reality is right now our team are grouped with South Sydney and Wests Tigers as the three sides with the least the going for them; Parramatta are maybe a nose in front and then there’s a bit of daylight to the rest.
Another rugged edition Kingz Container Crew Warriors player ratings for author and reader.
Match Highlights
An attacking masterclass led the Roosters to a dominant victory over the Warriors! pic.twitter.com/zYrtMh1FGs
— NRL (@NRL) May 12, 2024
1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: CNK’s limitations come under an unforgiving spotlight when the team is not going well, but he is the personification of heart and effort. Tried his guts out in the wake of the Warriors’ horrific start and finished with a game-high 10 tackle-breaks from 16 runs, as well 135 metres and a gutsy try. Made seven tackles, including some desperate last-line efforts. 6
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Can’t let go of the spade as he keeps digging deeper into a form hole. Bombed a try, made just 77 metres from 10 runs and added almost nothing positive besides a superb cover tackle on a runaway Dom Young in the second half. 4
3 ROCCO BERRY: The first half scoreline could have been a lot worse if not for a series of textbook bootlace Berry tackles on some of the Roosters’ more dangerous ball-runners. Finished with 21 tackles, along with nine runs for 64 metres. Not great on attack but not awful. Conceded a dubious stripping penalty. Half asleep as the Roosters grubbered in behind him for Crichton to score. 4.5
4 ADAM POMPEY: A reasonable return to the NRL, looking somewhat dangerous on occasion and making 13 runs for 78 metres. A remarkably low tally of six tackles was contributed to by his winger’s obsession with helping him try to contain Joey Manu. A couple of errors, little chance to genuinely impress. Kicked three-from-three off the tee. 4.5
5 ED KOSI: Reading between the lines, Kosi was never meant to play with Montoya on a plane home for NSW Cup duty before RTS pulled out with injury. Nevertheless, having Big Ed in the 22 invites danger – and so it proved with the rangy winger adding to his bulging catalogue of NRL-level incompetence in a staggering start to his first top-grade appearance since Magic Round last year by jamming in unnecessarily twice and dropping the ball on his first hit-up, contributing to the Roosters’ first three tries. To his credit, bounced back remarkably well with 11 runs for 83 metres and a well-taken try in the corner, and only a tough high-ball error against him. But your opposing winger making five line-breaks is never a great sign. 4
6 TE MAIRE MARTIN: The place where left-side passing movements come to die, TMM seemed to be the sixth-string playmaker inside the Roosters’ red-zone during the first half. More involved after the break and had one nice kick that earned a repeat set, but seems (and he is probably not being aided by the attacking structure, nor the changes outside this week) incapable of creating anything. Took the line on and made 81 metres from 11 runs…but the Warriors are in deep trouble if SJ is out and Martin is promoted to the No.7. 4
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: Guts galore to battle on until the 67th minute and still looked the most likely to conjure something despite being severely hampered. But no avoiding the fact that a charged-down kick started the early carnage and a dud pass to Barnett allowed the Roosters to streak away and post the first try of the second half. Plenty of missteps otherwise but always trying, including crossing for a try that was nixed by a dumb decoy run and laying on Kosi’s try beautifully – just the second try scored by a Warriors left winger in 2024. Targetted in defence and missed seven tackles but turned up to make 18. Rugby league Gods help us if that pec keeps him out for any length of time. 5
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE: Has remained a tower of strength throughout the Warriors’ decline and, although not as prominent today, still led the team’s metres tally comfortably with 164 from 20 carries and barged over for his fifth try of the year – equal-team-high with DWZ – in the 68th minute. Shortening by the week for TWL Player of the Year honours and the Simon Mannering Medal. 7
9 WAYDE EGAN: Benched for the start of the game and certainly added some spark when he came on. Brilliant try assist for Charnze helped bury the memories of some less crisp play inside the 20. Weirdly, just 15 tackles in 60 minutes of game time. Conceded a penalty. 5.5
10 BUNTY AFOA: Another prop rotation mind-bender from Webster. Pulled after the first 14 minutes – which was all Roosters – and only returned for a three-minute stint. Made two runs and 10 tackles but couldn’t have done much else. Either trust him to play decent minutes or don’t pick him, but that was fucken weird bro. 4
11 JACKSON FORD: Your archetypal rocks-and-diamonds Wacko Jacko performance, coupling a team-high 43 tackles and 11 runs for 95 metres with another boneheaded lead run that rubbed out a try. Gives his all but gets in the road on the Warriors’ strike edge. 5
12 MITCH BARNETT: Countered a hardworking 80-minute showing on the edge – with 16 runs for 122 metres and 22 tackles without a miss – by making three handling errors, though one was from a terrible pass. Arguably one of the better showings from a Warriors second-rower in 2024, but much more effective in the middle. 5.5
13 TOHU HARRIS: Typically industrious with 16 runs for 108 metres and 29 tackles, but looks badly in need of a spell and his ball-playing game fell flat today and made a handling error. Doesn’t seem quite like the leader we spruiked him to be when the team was flying now that they’re battling. 5
14 DYLAN WALKER: Another to push the effort-o-meter off the dial, racking up 30 tackles and 13 runs for 88 metres in 51 minutes on the park. Couple of dusty options near the Roosters’ line on the last and again with the first-half seconds running out. 6
15 TOM ALE: The mega-minutes AFB and Tohu are burdened with are hard to understand when Tommy makes such an impact – seven runs for 58 metres and an offload that causes a try – in just 18 paltry minutes on the park. 6
16 JAZZ TEVAGA: Lifted the energy as usual, despite falling off a few tackles. On the field for just 25 minutes but made 11 runs for 80 metres. 5
23 FREDDY LUSSICK: Promoted to the 17 and then the starting line-up, presumably to soak up some early pressure in defence. Failed to dampen a rampaging Dom Young as the Roosters went back-to-back early and came off at the 20-minute mark after a job not-so-well-done, with zero runs and 16 tackles with six misses. Lasted 23 seconds of his second stint before copping a head knock. 3
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