By Peter Jessup
The Warriors again got off to a slow start in their game against Souths at Ericsson yesterday but this time it was the ref's fault.
Whistler Rod Lawrence let the Rabbitohs kick off a split second after the ground announcer had asked the crowd to stand for the national
anthem, contrary to routine whereby the ref takes his cue from the television co-ordinator.
The Warriors made one tackle then Lawrence, who was in charge of only his third game of National Rugby League premiership football, held the Souths attack on the Warriors' 30 metre line. By the time the anthem was completed he had decided to restart the game from halfway.
"It was a bit confusing," said Souths captain Sean Garlick. "We didn't know what was happening."
The farce continued. When the Warriors won a penalty in front of Souths' posts the ballboy brought a kicking tee out on a quad motorbike, stalled it, could not start it again and had to push it from the field.
The bike was apparently subbed off since it was not seen again.
A head injury to Souths centre Jason Nicol, who met big Joe Vagana with steam up, delayed play for four minutes while he was assisted off with heavy concussion.
When the football finally started it was ordinary, the Warriors improving from the dismal showing against North Queensland but failing to take advantage of scoring opportunities to go down 8-12.
Coach Mark Graham, though, found plenty of positives in the blooding of new players. It might take all season to turn them into a competent unit, he conceded.
Certainly all the players from the local competition that they wanted to look at would have had a chance by then, Graham said, and if they were not performing the club would look to the player market.
