The Warriors have secured a tough fought victory over the Dragons, beating Ryan Carr’s aspect 18-6 at Go Media Stadium.
The win was New Zealand’s seventh in a row and secured their place within the high 4, that means they will afford to drop a sport within the first week of finals.
Right away off the kick off, the Red V had been on the assault and got here desperately scoring off the primary deal with of the sport.
MATCH CENTRE: New Zealand Warriors vs St George Illawarra Dragons stay scores
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The Warriors allowed the ball to bounce off the tee, forcing winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to leap and bat the ball again in to play.
It fell within the path of Dragons centre Zac Lomax, who was deemed to have knocked the ball ahead in to the arm of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad earlier than scoring.
“What a relief,” Warren Smith stated.
Later, Adam Pompey scored the primary attempt of the evening, steaming on to a Josh Curran quick ball to beat Tyrell Sloan.
Moments later, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad completed off a play on the proper aspect of the sector to attain the second of the evening in spectacular trend.
The subsequent attempt got here 42 minutes later, however not earlier than the Dragons had been ravaged by harm with three gamers leaving the sector without delay.
Debutant Sione Finau suffered a decrease leg harm and was helped from the sector alongside Michael Molo and Zac Lomax who each left the sector for head harm assessments.
Lucky for the Red V, Lomax was cleared and returned to the sector.
After halftime, the Warriors suffered an harm blow of their very own with Luke Metcalf clutching at his hamstring.
He was noticed with tears in his eyes on the sidelines and walked down the tunnel, together with his season doubtlessly over earlier than his aspect’s finals marketing campaign.
Lomax scored the Dragons solely attempt of the evening within the 61st minute, earlier than Addin Fonua-Blake pounced on a Sloan error to attain the Warriors’ third and safe the victory.
“You know what… he’s prone to having a brain explosion at times Tyrell Sloan,” Warren Smith stated.
“That’s the biggest gift since Luke Brooks was given a BBQ.”
SLOAN’S ‘BRAIN EXPLOSION’
No one can deny Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan is proficient, however yet one more ‘brain explosion’ has given Shane Flanagan ammunition to spark a fullback shake-up.
The incoming coach will reportedly give Zac Lomax an opportunity to compete for the No.1 jersey in 2024, with Sloan’s place up for grabs.
In the dying levels of the sport in opposition to the Warriors because the rating sat 10-6, Shaun Johnson put in a regulation grubber with Sloan the one participant inside two metres of the ball.
Instead of grounding it or batting it out, he tried to choose it up and was unsuccessful, gifting prop Addin Fonua-Blake a four-pointer.
“The referee says try… the Warriors might have the gift of all gifts,” Warren Smith stated.
“He’s prone to having a brain explosion at times Sloan, trying to pick the ball up… that’s the biggest gift since Luke Brooks was given a BBQ.”
“Sloan just tried to scoop it up, I can’t understand for the life of me… just put your hand on it, ground it, the coach will be talking to him about that,” Steve Roach stated.
“Four minutes remaining, now a ten-point lead… they should have had no worse than a dropout there, instead Tyrell Sloan… it’s a real area of his game (to improve), attention to detail,” Smith added.
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FINAU’S CRUEL DEBUT
Sione Finua’s NRL dream rapidly turned in to a nightmare on Friday afternoon after he suffered an ankle harm solely 25 minutes in to his debut.
The 21-year-old was carried off the sector and took no additional half in his aspect’s loss to the Warriors.
Finau made the transfer to the Dragons alongside his brother Haele forward of the 2023 pre-season, leaving the Storm.
Finau changed Max Feagai on the wing however his harm proves simply how merciless rugby league might be at occasions.
“The young player on debut, Finau. He hurt an ankle and was carted off, I don’t think he will return,” Alexander stated at half time.
“Our game can be so cruel at times, the young Victorian that is making his NRL debut, the stuff of dreams,” James Graham stated.
“Unfortunately he has only lasted part way through the first half.”
While his debut could not have gone to plan, Finau will probably get extra probabilities to show he can reduce it at NRL degree after signing a two-year extension to affix the membership’s high 30 in 2024.
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HORROR WARRIORS BLOW
The Panthers misplaced their five-eighth on Thursday evening and now the Warriors may very well be with out their very own No.6 after an harm blow.
Luke Metcalf left the sector shortly after halftime, clutching at his hamstring earlier than he was noticed with tears in his eyes on the sideline.
The 24-year-old suffered a critical hamstring harm in pre-season and missed the primary half of the season, however now his 2023 marketing campaign may very well be over.
“Missed pretty much the entire first half of the season, if it’s of any significance that strain that he has suffered again, his season could well be over,” Warren Smith stated.
“Five weeks remaining in the season beyond tonight, the Warriors with a win tonight lock down a top four position.
“If it is serious enough, Metcalf may have played his last minutes of 2023… what a great shame.”
While Metcalf could not function for New Zealand within the finals, Andrew Webster is about to welcome Te Maire Martin again into the group with open arms.
The former Panther is about to return from a damaged fibula through reserve grade and will solely spend a single week in NSW Cup earlier than taking part in within the NRL.
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