TWL RD 26: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS

The Warriors’ crucial 26-22 loss to Parramatta at Mount Smart Stadium was overshadowed by a wildly controversial Bunker call that denied the hosts a remarkable comeback victory, but coach Andrew Webster hit the nail on the head post-match when he said his team should never have been in that position in the first place.

To again paraphrase Webster, the Warriors beat themselves. Concentration lapses at regular intervals saw the plucky, out-of-contention Eels push out to 20-4 and 26-16 leads.

The visitors had only 46 percent and trailed in virtually every significant statistical category, but superior ball control and an ability to ice rare opportunities proved the difference.

The Warriors’ top-four destiny is now out of their hands, needing an away win over desperate Manly in the final round, and Brisbane and Cronulla to lose to heavyweights who will likely rest a stack of players.

Plenty of positive individual performances to come out of an agonising loss, however, as per the Kingz Container Crew player ratings.

1 CHARNZE NICOLL-KLOKSTAD: A mammoth ball-running performance – 328 metres from an incredible 32 carries – and super safe at the back. One error, stood up by opposite Iongi for one try and remains one of the NRL’s least effective fullbacks inside the opposition 20. 7

2 DALLIN WATENE-ZELEZNIAK: Carried impressively with 172 metres from 17 runs and had no errors. Gave away a penalty and was wrong-footed in the Eels’ in-goal by opposite Addo-Carr, who ran the length for a try. No real chances on attack. 6.5

3 ADAM POMPEY: Purple patch continued with one of his best games in the NRL. Stormed over for the Warriors’ first try, produced a peach of a try assist for their second and was hungry for the tough carries, racking up 149 metres on 13 runs. Made 17 tackles and was mistake-free. 8.5

4 ROCCO BERRY: Nine runs for 83 metres, 16 tackles and did all the one-percenters well. Unable to grasp an early tryscoring chance chase a loose ball in the Eels’ in-goal and no real highlights. 6

5 ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK: Keeps on producing the goods every week, scoring his 12th try (equalling his career-high) in just 17 games and making another long line-break, on top of monumental 29 runs for 299 metres and eight tackle-breaks. What a season he’s having. 8.5

6 CHANEL HARRIS-TAVITA: Laid on Pompey’s try, ran for over 100 metres and made 15 tackles as well as shouldering a fair bit of the kicking load. On the debit side, two errors and a misread as Tuilagi broke through to set up Iongi’s first. 7

7 TANAH BOYD: Set up both of Halasima’s tries – one with a kick, the other with a nice short, flat ball – and straightened the attack in the lead-up to Pompey’s and RTS’s. Made 16 runs for 121 metres, 23 tackles and generally kicked well. Certainly not brilliant but doing a good job with the attributes he possesses. 7

8 JAMES FISHER-HARRIS: Took it upon himself to lead a depleted middle-forward contingent, making an enormous 23 hit-ups for 195 metres and racking up 27 tackles. Another handling error to continue a frustrating recent trend. 7.5

9 WAYDE EGAN: Not one the elite hooker will remember fondly. Topped the tackle count with 38 but came up with a dreadful attempt as Jack Williams scored, made two errors and had zero runs before going off injured with the score at 20-4 to the Eels. 5

16 TANNER STOWERS-SMITH: Promoted to the starting line-up late again and held down the middle in solid fashion, playing above his weight with 10 runs for 93 metres and 21 tackles in 39 minutes. 6.5

11 KURT CAPEWELL: Hardworking in defence with 36 tackles but had some crucial misses, made two errors and finished with eight runs for 69 metres. Pedestrian. 5.5

12 MARATA NIUKORE: Ran strongly with 10 carries for 101 metres and made 28 tackles, but also missed  some vital ones. Conceded two set restarts and just doesn’t provide adequate value. 6

13 ERIN CLARK: Did what we’ve come to expect – 13 runs for 134 metres and 28 tackles – without overly standing out. Busier from a ball-playing perspective, passing the ball 15 times. 6.5

10 DEMETRIC VAIMAUGA: Was in the spotlight for his alleged knock-on, but otherwise a fairly quiet 34-minute contribution by his standards with only three runs. Big defensively with 33 tackles. 6

14 TE MAIRE MARTIN: Got 28 minutes at dummy-half, made no runs and had 14 tackles with two misses, but did have a nice hand in RTS’s try. 6

15 EDDIE IEREMIA-TOEAVA: Another strong showing from the rookie, who looks at home in the NRL. Seven runs for 63 metres and 23 tackles in 36 minutes off the pine…will be unlucky to be dropped when Ford returns for the finals. 6.5

17 LEKA HALASIMA: Magnificent impact off the bench, scoring a sensational second-half double to drag the Warriors back into it. Eight runs for 90 metres and 32 tackles with a miss in 46 minutes, though had an error and gave away a penalty. 7.5

The post TWL RD 26: KINGZ CONTAINER CREW WARRIORS PLAYER RATINGS appeared first on This Warriors Life.