NRL: Warriors start well - and win

Shaun Johnson of the Warriors runs away to score a try during the round four NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans. Photo / Getty Images.

WARRIORS 26
TITANS 6

A strange thing happened for the Warriors tonight - they scored first against the Titans.

After giving up early leads to Manly (16-0), Parramatta (8-0) and the Bulldogs (16-0) in their first three games, and losing two of the three, a good start was paramount against the Titans and they got it when Elijah Taylor scored in the 11th minute And the Warriors won.

In the end, it was very comfortable. They weren't totally convincing in the opening half-hour, as errors mounted on the back of poor decisions in the slippery conditions, but once they grabbed a second eased away in the contest.

Defensively they were excellent. They held their line well, were aggressive and accurate and their kick chase was first-rate. There were certainly no issues with their defence on the edges that had been an issue in the first three weeks.

The only concern for coach Brian McClennan was the sight of winger Manu Vatuvei heading to the sideline after 49 minutes with what appeared a hamstring injury and Kevin Locke limping off with a knee problem four minutes from time.

There will be some comfort in the fact, if the pair are out for any length of time, Glen Fisiiahi is in dynamic form and itching for a chance. He scored another three tries for the Vulcans playing at fullback today on the back of the six he nabbed last weekend and is pressing for a first-grade place.

They would still be big boots to fill. Locke's cover defence has been excellent and Vatuvei scored one try, had another disallowed and came within 2m of another when he was chopped down from a brilliant Warriors breakaway on the eve of halftime. Shaun Johnson still scored from the next play as the Warriors made sure the scoreboard ticked over regularly.

Simon Mannering even enjoyed a Red Sea moment as the Titans defence opened up.
It was a poignant try for Mannering, who was playing his 150th NRL game and 50th as Warriors captain, not that Mannering will get emotional about it. It's not his style. The only thing he really wants is a first NRL title.

This win was important in their pursuit of that. Last year's beaten grand finalists and one of the favourites now have a two win, two loss record and, aside from the errors, were very good.

Tonight's defence was the template of what they need to follow throughout the season and they allowed Gold Coast to score only in the 75th minute when Luke O'Dwyer crossed from a breakaway.

The Titans, to their credit, never gave up and played some good football of their own. But what a difference a good start can make.