WESTS TIGERS 6 NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS 32
CALLUM WALKER, Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Friday
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS continued their charge towards the top of the NRL ladder with a comprehensive victory over a lacklustre Wests.
The scene was set early when James Fisher-Harris crashed over just three minutes in before Bunty Afoa was sinbinned for the Tigers for a late tackle.
Wests were their own worst enemies and two Warriors tries whilst Afoa was off the field summed up the hosts’ recent run of form.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira finished expertly straight after his departure, with Te Maire Martin supplying Ali Leiataua with a bullet pass just three minutes later.
Two missed Adam Pompey conversions, however, meant the Warriors only led 14-0. And, after weathering the visitors’ onslaught, the Tigers grabbed their only points.
An Adam Doueihi grubber wasn’t dealt with and Samuela Fainu gleefully pounced next to the posts.
A 14-6 half-time deficit certainly wasn’t unreachable for the Tigers, but the Warriors never looked like being troubled in the second half as Khan-Pereira grabbed a double on 50 minutes.
Three minutes later, Wayde Egan cantered home after Jahream Bula had dropped a Martin bomb, before Sam Healey rounded things off with time ticking down, backing up a wonderful Jacob Laban break.
TIGERS: 1 Jahream Bula, 2 Sunia Turuva, 3 Heamasi Makasini, 4 Starford To’a, 5 Jeral Skelton, 6 Jarome Luai, 7 Adam Doueihi, 8 Terrell May, 9 Josese Lanyon, 10 Bunty Afoa, 11 Samuela Fainu, 12 Sione Fainu, 13 Alex Twal. Subs: 14 Latu Fainu, 15 Fonua Pole, 16 Alex Seyfarth, 17 Tony Sukkar (not used), 18 Faaletino Tavana (not used), 22 Jared Haywood
Tries: Samuela Fainu (27); Goals: Doueihi 1/1; Sin bin: Afoa (13) – late tackle
WARRIORS: 1 Taine Tuaupiki, 2 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 3 Ali Leiataua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Alofiana Khan-Pereira, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Te Maire Martin, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Jacob Laban, 13 Erin Clark. Subs: 14 Sam Healey, 15 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Marata Niukore, 18 Luke Metcalf (not used), 21 Luke Laulilii (not used)
Tries: Fisher-Harris (3), Khan-Pereira (14, 50), Leiataua (17), Egan (53), Healey (75); Goals: Pompey 1/3, Harris-Tavita 3/3
SCORING SEQUENCE: 0-6, 0-10, 0-14, 6-14; 6-20, 6-26, 6-32
Rugby Leaguer & League Express Men of the Match
Tigers: Alex Twal; Warriors: Jacob Laban
Penalty count: 5-4; Half-time: 6-14; Referee: Wyatt Raymond; Attendance: 10,445