The Other Warriors
NSW Cup Warriors set the tone
The NRL Warriors were not the only Warrior team to have a dominant performance on Saturday night. The NSW Cup Warriors convincingly defeated the second-placed Wentworthville Magpies 30 - 6 in the final curtain raiser to the NRL game.
The promising thing was that they played a dominant game even though they had another disorganized pre game, not being sure who was available to play for the NSW Cup team until the last moment. Missing this week was Sam Lousi (called up to the NRL) and Tui Lolohea through injury.
A strong left edge on attack for the Warriors saw them pick up and early 10 nil lead within the first 25 minutes of the game. First through winger Jarrod Tua to bring up a tally of eight tries in 11 matches. This try was followed by a surging run by Solomone Kata to dot down out wide. Kata handling the kicking duties, was able to slot the first one from out wide but not the next one.
An active attitude just before half time saw the Warriors go in again through the other winger Ngataua Hukatai. Quick hands and accurate passing saw Hukatai pick up his third try in only his fourth appearance for the NSW Cup side.
The Warriors went into break after what was arguably their best half of the year up 16 points to nil.
However, it's a game of two halves and it was important for the Warriors to come out strong, and that they did scoring another three tries. Kata brought up a hat trick with Tua bagging another try.
There was one small lapse with a single try being let in, but despite that a comprehensive victory for the Warriors who are now one point outside the top four of the NSW Cup ladder.
Last minute loss for the Juniors
After a 76 minute battle, the Juniors were able to get one point ahead through Ata Hingano. Unfortunately the game is 80 minutes long and in the dying moments the Parramatta juniors snatched victory with a try.
From the opening siren the Junior Eels were the first to get on the board through strong centre John Folau (brother to former NRL Superstar Israel Folau) just before the ten minute mark.
The Eels kept the pressure up and were able to put back to back tries on the Warriors within another ten minutes. Luckily for the Warriors the missed conversions only made it an 8 - 0 scoreline after 20 minutes.
Either side didn't give up a point until just before the break where interchange hooker Jazz Tevaga put the Warriors on the board with co-captain Mason Lino following up his effort a minute later off of a beautiful dummy and turn of speed.
The pre-halftime curse struck the Warriors again though, letting a try just before the break to go into halftime behind at 14-12.
An reinvigorated Warriors side resumed play after the break leading to the first points of the second half when Tevaga pounced on a Hingano grubber to bring up his first two tries in the NYC. Lino was having a good day with the boot to push the home side out to a 18 - 14 scoreline.
However, as the game reached its final quarter the Eels winger Halauafu Lavaka caught a well placed Zac Dockar-Clay kick to score in the corner and level the scores at 18 all after Dockar-Clay missed his the conversion.
Sirens began to ring for the Warriors when their chief play maker Lino went off in the 70th minute with a shoulder injury. This called for Hingano to step up, and that he did. Sitting in the pocket behind the play the ball he slotted the field goal to put the Warriors one point ahead with a few minutes to play.
It wouldn't be the Warriors day though; in the 78th minute Parramatta received a penalty but turned down the kick at goal after having missed so many already. The roll of the dice for Eels proved favorable as they were able to spread the ball wide and score in the left edge.
The loss has shifted the Warriors down to seventh place, just inside the top eight. They'll have to bring it all next weekend as they take on the second placed Broncos up in Brisbane this coming Saturday.