“We don’t like Manly either Watmough” read a Warriors fan’s sign at Mt Smart. Unfortunately for the fan, love ‘em or hate ‘em the Manly juggernaut keeps on rolling.
The Warriors on the other hand have now lost two games in a row, and are in a dogfight to make the top eight.
It was a game that was always going to be tough for the Warriors, with Shaun Johnson and Feleti Mateo both scratched an hour before kickoff. As a result the Warriors lost key playmaking ability, and it was clear they were missing something on attack.
Chad Townsend is a good organiser and distributor but his kicking game was exposed, and the lack of other options led to a lot of 20 metre restarts and extra tackles for Manly.
It was a shame for the spectacle that Johnson didn’t play, as the forward battle was incredible, and a credit to the Warriors that Manly scored their first three tries by stretching them wide after failing to score through the middle.
The Warriors had long periods of possession and attacking situations, but they lacked subtleness. An example of this was the move to get Konrad Hurrell the ball, telegraphed so much so that there were two and three defenders on him, as opposed to isolating him one-on-one with Steve Matai.
The fact the Warriors didn’t take their opportunities wasn’t solely down to having limited playmakers. Take nothing away from Manly’s defence, which was incredible, scrambling defence that stopped numerous tries. Manly knew this was going to be a tough game and they were up for it.
A key moment was Manu Vatuvei, who looked headed for a try on halftime only for Daly Cherry-Evans to get a hand on the Beast’s ankle and thwart the movement. That never-say-die attitude will be hard to beat over the coming rounds and into the finals.
One facet of the Warriors play that needs improving is set completion. A 64 per cent completion rate against Manly was always going to make things tough, but it is something that has been a problem for a while. Against several teams the Warriors have had periods of turning the ball over and putting themselves under pressure. In the past they have managed to get through this, however against Manly it came unstuck. Coach Andrew McFadden has the defence working very well, but needs to fix their completion issue.
The Warriors are now in a must-win situation for the run into the finals. While the draw is somewhat easier with Canberra, Cronulla and Newcastle over the next three weeks, they need to win all three to gain momentum, and simply to keep touch with the other teams in the race for the top eight.
The key for the Warriors is clearly Shaun Johnson – they need him fit and firing, and maybe the week off against Manly was required to get him fresh for the finals run.
Without Johnson, the Warriors can start preparing for 2015.
Knightblues
Guest
You have to admire Manly, besides guts which all teams have, what they have in abundance is brains, that's the edge, and if you have that in Rugby League your hands down to beat anyone usually.
JayBob
Guest
The 2nd one was off an instant play the ball, Watmough surrendered in the tackle as well and the ref called held for the quickest play the ball I've ever seen 10m out. Manly, the only team to surrender in a tackle and get an instant play the ball. This was when the game was in the balance at 10-6. Also at 10-6 was the try saver on Tomkins, in which Lyon not only changed his line to deliberately jump into him but made the tackle on him when he didn't have the ball, then Tomkins falls cm's short, but no penalty. At the very least that's a penalty every day of the week and at most it's a sin bin. I only watched the 2nd half and there were so many calls go Manly's way, most go unnoticed such as the instant play the ball from a surrender tackle where the player hasn't even had to get up off the ground (which leads to a Try) but anyone who knows a bit about footy can read the underlying tone of all these calls, it's getting a bit suss.
Buzzard
Guest
I can't see the Warriors making it into the finals. A real shame! Just too many dumb errors and giving away dumb penalties. Manly are a class outfit though and DCE saved them the match with his ankle tap on Manu, then holding Manu up over the line. Just dumb errors cost the Warriors the game.
MAX
Guest
I agree Sean. When news came through that Shaun and Feleti were scratchings I could not get to the computer fast enough to quadruple my bet. Lady Luck smiled. Had they played it would have been line ball. Matty Johns showed a video clip with sound on which highlighted the importance of Shaun to his team. He is the General, directs attack and defence with incredible skill. On top of that he delivers maximum effort, home or away, rain ,hail or shine .He is Warrior#1 and a credit to the game. RL lovers would be well advised to view the clip. Broncos v Warriors Shaun would surely be SAS material.
Clearly_Concussed
Guest
haha,if he was classified as a winger I am sure he would be the first winger to be an immortal.
Ian_M
Guest
That game highlighted that the Warriors and the Sea Eagles are placed exactly where they should be on the ladder. As a Warriors fan, I think McFadden has done superbly well to get them to where they are currently after the shambles McLennan and Eliott left them in but there is a still a lot of work to be done before they will be competing for top 4 spots. Hiku's tries were frustrating, wingers finish with the dive over the corner post like that so much you wonder whether the defending players should attack the football rather than try and tackle the player. It must be far easier to knock the ball out than stop a winger like Hiku by getting him into touch before they put the ball down.
Ian_M
Guest
I suspect Jack misspelt whinger - Jimbo....
Zedman
Guest
The two try's by Hiku were so good they looked easy, especially the second one.Vatuveis' mistakes are too costly and I think there are always points on offer down his side of the field either in the air or around him as was shown yesterday.
Chris
Guest
www.theroar.com.au/2014/07/27/new-zealand-warriors-vs-manly-sea-eagles-nrl-live-scores-blog-3/
james t
Guest
Doiiiin the eagle rock! Warriors are a great team and one too watch out for. Very physical very aggressive.
Grahame
Guest
It might have been nice if the writer had put the final score to complete the story. Looks like I have to go somewhere else to find out.
Jimbo Jones
Guest
Jamie Lyon is a centre, not a winger - I dont even think he would be the best one playing at the moment, let alone the greatest. Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree. He doesnt have the electrifiying pace that a good winger needs, or the athletic finishing ability of many of the other wingers going around. What he does have is the ability to create opportunities for his team mates to get in try scoring positions.
jack
Guest
yes I think Many will be there but win I am not sure, but for god sake there tackling style lets them get away with blue murder it is the same every game, its called gang tackling and they are the least penalised team in the comp they also have the greatest winger as captain jack
The eye
Guest
Yes,all that..but the clear difference between Manly and almost every other club is between the ears..Warriors should expedite a clause into every boofhead looking players contract that penalizes them $5k every time they get up to play the ball and drop it,this is the elite how hard is it ?