Warriors 34 Tigers 12
It has been as rare as a hairy-eared dwarf lemur but the Warriors put in a complete performance last night to outplay the defending NRL champions.
They contained a dangerous Tigers outfit by giving them little time and space, treasured possession and completed their sets
of six with a good kicking game, but they also looked lively on attack.
In many respects, however, the Warriors showed just how frustrating they can be to support. Last night was easily their best performance of the season but these sparks of form are all-too infrequent.
Evarn Tuimavave, who did a great job of filling the boots of Steve Price who's on State of Origin duty, set up the opening two tries - the first to Sione Faumuina in the second minute and the second to Brent Webb.
Webb popped up on the shoulders of the Warriors forwards and made four explosive breaks in the first half - two of which ended in tries.
Webb is off contract at the end of the season and he's already been linked with a move to the Gold Coast Titans and even rugby union but the Warriors would do a lot worse than to dig deep into the bank account to find a good package for the Australian-born Kiwis fullback before the June 30 anti-tampering deadline expires.
It was inevitable, though, that Kiwi Benji Marshall would light up Ericsson Stadium.
Although he tried a few Whakatane steps and dished off a few fancy passes, he hardly had a night to remember. But when Paul Whatuira made a half-break and found a quick-running Marshall, the 21-year-old caught the breath of the 8210 crowd.
Marshall put on the after-burners but they weren't running as smoothly as Webb's and, realising he wouldn't make the line, he popped a no-look, behind-the-back pass to Taniela Tuiaka to score under the posts.
It was pure class and reminiscent of the audacious pass Marshall dished up to Pat Richards in last year's grand final and not bad for a guy Tigers coach Tim Sheens thinks is still a month away from full fitness.
At the time, the Tigers had looked tired but with only one pass the gap didn't look quite so imposing.
But Ivan Cleary's side quickly hit back through Grant Rovelli just seconds before the halftime hooter.
At 22-6, even the most diehard Warriors fan wouldn't be assuming victory. But something different happened last night.
Although the Tigers had their best spell of the night in the first 10 minutes of the second stanza, when Louis Anderson scored with 30 minutes left the game was effectively over. And when Tuimavave drove over for a well-deserved try in the 56th minute, the Tigers looked deflated.
Although the Warriors would be foolhardy to mention the P-word (playoffs), a few more performances like last night and it just might re-enter the vocabulary.
Warriors 34 (S. Faumuina, B. Webb, S. Mannering, G. Rovelli, L. Anderson, E. Tuimavave tries; T. Martin 5 gls).
Tigers 12 (T. Tuiaka 2 tries; B. Marshall 2 gls).
Brent Webb in action last night. Jeff Brass / Getty Images
Warriors 34 Tigers 12
It has been as rare as a hairy-eared dwarf lemur but the Warriors put in a complete performance last night to outplay the defending NRL champions.
They contained a dangerous Tigers outfit by giving them little time and space, treasured possession and completed their sets
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.