Warriors cruise to scrappy Campbelltown dub
Despite a couple of first-half hiccups, it was predominantly one-way traffic in a 32-6 win over the battling Tigers.
The final margin could have been double, but the Warriors will nevertheless take ample satisfaction out of an ultimately convincing 32-6 defeat of a spiralling Wests Tigers outfit.
After a flying start, the Warriors got a bit untidy and let the Tigers back into the contest. But three tries to none after the break made for a comfortable watch for Wahs fans…though a few more points would have been nice in a match in which they made a whopping 11 line-breaks to two.
Possession finished even but the Warriors ran for 460 more metres — and their average set distance was 12 metres more than the Tigers’ — providing a glaring indication of the visitors’ dominance in the middle of Campbelltown Sports Stadium.
There were frustrating errors (completing at just 74 percent), needless ill-discipline (losing the set restart count 6-1) and a pile of missed scoring chances.
But on the other hand, in an unappealing assignment — suburban southwestern Sydney on a cold Friday night against waspy opposition — it was a good palate-cleanser after some tight recent losses in high-profile clashes. The intent and effort all night was excellent from a team that has four top-liners still to return.
Jacob Laban’s white-hot run of form continued, James Fisher-Harris made a menacing return, Erin Clark was outstanding and Te Maire Martin thrived on the Tigers’ defensive frailties.
The opening 40 minutes was a veritable half of two halves — and the first 20 minutes was an unmitigated disaster for the Tigers.
James Fisher-Harris strolled in off an Erin Clark pass near the line just two minutes in.
Bunty Afoa poleaxed former teammate Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad late in the 12th minute to earn 10 minutes in the bin, and Alofiana Khan-Pereira made it 63 tries in 63 NRL games in the ensuing set as the Tigers’ shorthanded defence immediately struggled to cope.
Ali Leiataua steamed over from Te Maire Martin’s pass to create an imposing 14-0 scoreline after only 16 minutes.
Leiataua, AKP, CNK and a rampant Leka Halasima all made supplementary line-breaks in the opening 20 minutes, but the Warriors got a bit loose and ill-disciplined — and the Tigers gleefully accepted their window of opportunity.
Round 4 destroyer Adam Doueihi started heating up and threaded a grubber into the in-goal, which Leiataua was unable to handle as Samuela Fainu hared through to score.
The Tigers were camped on the Warriors’ line for big chunks of the remainder of the half, but their impatience and some composed defence meant the halftime scoreboard stayed at 14-6.
Following a first-set error from Leiataua, the Warriors snared the second-half momentum via searing Jacob Laban break — and the Tigers never recovered.
Khan-Pereira had his second in the 49th minute, stepping inside after more great vision from Martin.
When Bula couldn’t handle a TMM bomb, Chanel Harris-Tavita flicked the ball to no one and Wayde Egan swooped to run through a cavernous gap. All but game over at 26-6 in the 53rd minute.
The Tigers never really looked capable of another revival, while the Warriors finally added to their tally with six minutes left when Sam Healey finished off a 40-metre moving featuring lovely interplay from Clark, Martin and Laban.
A gallant chase from Nicoll-Klokstad on a tryline-bound Jarome Luai in the dying stages personified the Warriors’ attitude on the night, even if the execution was not always up to the same standard.
It’s a result the puts the onus back on the chasing pack, the Warriors now firming for a top-two finish as they line up St George Illawarra at home, and bottom-eight sides Canterbury and Gold Coast on the road over the next three weeks.