TWL RD 2: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS
If you thought last week was a throwback to some of the more excruciating, pre-Webster elements of being a Warriors fan, how about that one?
A frustrating first half mixing promising moments with borderline incompetence and tough calls to trail 18-6 at halftime. A near-perfect 35 minutes after the break to go on a 20-0 run and all but seal the end of a 14-match losing streak against our greatest rival. And finally one of the biggest chokes in club history – even encompassing the dozens of their inferior predecessors that have blown late leads in inconceivable fashion – to let in two tries inside the last three minutes for a heart-wrenching 30-26 defeat.
Xavier Coates’ winning try for Melbourne will deservedly go down as one of the all-time great NRL buzzer beaters…perhaps a sliver of consolation for a truly gutting result. The fightback will provide more comfort, tangible signs that this team is warming to the 2024 task of challenging for a maiden premiership.
For the second time in as many games this season, though, it’s all-too-familiar territory for chastened long-term Warriors fans but simultaneously unfamiliar territory for the Webster era: the first time since our saviour took over that this team has led inside the last 20 minutes of a game and lost.
The rawness of that outrageous finish makes it slightly harder to accept that there were more positives to take away from Round 2 than Round 1. Man for man, it was a far better performance at AAMI Park, laced with resolve and moments of brilliance against a more difficult opponent in enemy territory – which is all reflected in the TWL Kingz Container Crew player ratings.
1 TAINE TUAUPIKI: A coming-of-age performance from the stand-in custodian. Despite the odd misstep (a poor intercept pass on attack and a handling error), couldn’t have asked for much more in a pressure-cooker atmosphere. Some brilliant early clean-up work, an assist for the Warriors’ first try and some incisive runs up the middle during the second half to finish with 180 metres (48 post-contact) on 17 runs. 7.5
2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Arguably the Warriors’ best in a patchy team performance in the first half with his courageous charges out of trouble, along with finishing off their only try of the opening 40. Brilliant finish for the team’s second and racked up 181 metres from 18 runs. But despite a gallant effort to prevent Coates’ last-gasp match-winner, probably missed his assignment a touch by trusting his centre to get his defensive job done a fraction too late. 8
3 ROCCO BERRY: Two rounds in, two mature and industrious displays from the 22-year-old in his 33rd NRL game. Regularly looked dangerous on attack and finished with 120 metres from 11 runs, exquisite touch to send DWZ away to the corner for his second and 18 tackles in a very good defensive display. 7.5
4 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Quiet first half but exploded after the break with a sizzling burst to split the Storm open, followed by a superb take of a bomb and offload for Ford to score. Made 18 tackles and 11 runs for 128 metres, and eventually caught up in his battle with the dangerous Nick Meaney. Sloppy play-the-ball left the door ajar for the Storm. Still room for improvement and more involvement. 7
5 MARCELO MONTOYA: Woeful first half that saw him get outjumped by Warbrick for the first try, come up with a cold drop running out of yardage and bomb a certain try by not carrying the ball in the correct arm and miraculously getting held up by Jahrome Hughes. Atoned somewhat with a solid second half, including crashing over for a try and taking his match tally to 122 metres on 16 runs. 5.5
6 LUKE METCALF: Another to look much better during the second half. Got his running game going and produced a lovely cut-out pass to put Montoya in. Had a few tough moments defensively, including a misread for Papenhuyzen’s match-turning 78th-minute try. A handling error and just one kick. 6
7 SHAUN JOHNSON: All class once again, laying on both of Dallin’s tries by digging into the line and creating space out the back, while his persistent, consistent kicking game led to the Warriors’ other two four-pointers. Made the same defensive mistake as Metcalf when Papenhuyzen scythed through for his first, but also came up with some big defensive plays. 8
8 ADDIN FONUA-BLAKE: Led the Warriors with 190 metres (72 post-contact) from 17 runs and made 22 tackles without a miss, but the standout moment was a brilliant flick offload that gave his side momentum to post one of their second-half tries. 8
14 FREDDY LUSSICK: Dummy-half service in the first half was pretty stodgy, but got better as the match wore on. Didn’t offer much from a running perspective either but racked up a team-high 36 tackles before exiting with seven minutes left. 5
10 MITCH BARNETT: Solid enough in both 25-minute-plus stints, reeling off 11 runs for 119 metres and 21 tackles. Arguably inadvertently gave the Storm the chance to snatch victory with his quasi-chargedown of Jonah Pezet’s Hail Mary long-range field goal. 6
11 JACKSON FORD: One BS penalty (that was farcically not overturned on a Warriors challenge) and one ruck infringement with no errors was a personal triumph for the hectic second-rower, who garnished a more disciplined peformance with a big (albeit contentious) try and nine runs for 80 metres with 35 tackles. 7.5
12 KURT CAPEWELL: We already knew the veteran wasn’t going to be the type of recruit to wow us with impressive stats and highlight-reel plays, instead providing value in the effort areas. That said, despite 34 tackles and seven runs, it was hard to get overly excited about Capewell’s performance, which included an error and a (perhaps tough) miss on Hughes in the lead-up to Meaney’s try. Probably did all the one-percenters well but hard to gauge on a first watch. 5.5
13 TOHU HARRIS: An HIA cut his contribution to an uncharacteristically short 54 minutes, during which time the skipper crammed in 18 runs for 166 metres and 29 tackles, along with a smattering of his customary ball-playing. 7
15 TOM ALE: Came on when Harris went off but was barely sighted with two strong runs and five tackles in 26 minutes. 4.5
16 BUNTY AFOA: Copping a fair bit from the fanbase but stood up in a 25-minute stint. Seven winding-the-clock-back charges for 76 metres and 13 tackles, while the Storm didn’t score a point while he was on the field, helping the Warriors wrest control in the middle of the park. 7
17 DYLAN WALKER: Another busy, high-energy and high-impact performance in the middle with 13 runs for 129 metres and 13 tackles. One poor error and another unnecessary pushed pass. 6.5
23 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Chucked into dummy-half for the last seven minutes and had a minimal role to play, consisting of six tackles and three passes. 4
The post TWL RD 2: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS appeared first on This Warriors Life.