League: Roller-coaster takes big dip

The Warriors are stuck on a roller-coaster and are seemingly unable to find the fairground attendant to let them off as their up and down season continued last night.

The consistency coach Tony Kemp put on his pre-season wish-list is sadly missing considering their record now reads loss, win, loss, win, loss. The search for their first back-to-back wins since 2003 will have to wait yet another day.

Kemp won't have returned to Jade Stadium with the fondest of memories considering his side were put to the sword there 50-4 by the same side last year in only his second game in charge.

But a lot has changed since then and he at least has a more resolute side that battles to the end.

They found plenty of go-forward through the likes of Steve Price and Wairangi Koopu, and impressive hooker Nathan Fien was again dangerous sniping around the rucks.

They did, however, struggle to seriously threaten the Tigers line, despite their high-tempo, high-risk game that had brought so much success last weekend against the Rabbitohs.

At times they looked bereft of ideas when close to the tryline but a combination of the Tigers defence and the persistent rain made it a tough assignment.

Tim Sheens' side are not the easy-beats so many had predicted before the season and they can now look back on the past three weeks with satisfaction after wins over the Bulldogs, Roosters and now the Warriors.

Their halves combination of Scott Prince and Benji Marshall were again to the fore, and Paul Whatuira did his Kiwis chances no harm at all with two tries.

Although the Warriors survived three close shaves in the first half after three decisions were referred upstairs to the video referee, they were very unlucky to go into the break trailing 6-0.

Tigers centre Whatuira scampered away 95m after recovering a Stacey Jones grubber with the Warriors hot on attack.

Kemp's side emerged from halftime seemingly still with their minds in the dressing room as Whatuira strolled in for his second try of the night two minutes after the restart as he slipped out of two weak Warriors tackles.

But it spurred the away side into action and the Warriors replied through Todd Byrne, who burst over to score in the 55th minute, getting clear of three tacklers

Much to the displeasure of the majority of the 18,421 fans, however, the Tigers began to assert some control and they consistently added to their lead through tries to Prince and Brett Hodgson.

It may be only round five but this roller-coaster isn't much fun anymore.

Tigers 24 (P. Whatuira 2, S. Prince, P. Richards tries, B. Hodgson 2 goals). Warriors 6 (T. Byrne try, S Jones goal).

- HERALD ON SUNDAY