The Warriors have made it two wins in a row to start their 2018 season, beating the Titans 20-8 at home at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
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Final score
New Zealand Warriors 20
Gold Coast Titans 8
The New Zealand Warriors host the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium in Round 2 of the NRL season. Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEDT).
This is a great opportunity for one of thedr teams to start the season off with two wins.
Last weekend, the Warriors beat Souths 32-20 in Perth, while the Titans came back from an early 18-0 deficit to beat Canberra 30-28 at home on the Gold Coast. Konrad Hurrell was the hero for the Titans, scoring the winning try with just 90 seconds left in the match.
The Warriors were impressive in Perth, with captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and halfback Shaun Johnson having strong games. Five-eighth Blake Green also slotted in well in his first game for the club after leaving Manly in the off-season, while 19-year-old prop Isaiah Papali’i took his starting opportunity with both hands.
New coach Garth Brennan will want the Titans to tighten up their defence. They had the second-worst defensive record in the NRL last season, and they didn’t show signs of any off-season improvement.
Both teams have named unchanged line-ups.
Prediction
The Kiwis should have too many points in them at home.
Warriors by 4.
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match from 3pm (AEDT).
ebop
Guest
You nailed it mate
ebop
Guest
This week.... strolled home without breaking a sweat. Titans are rubbish aren’t they.
ebop
Guest
Lol, were you disappointed you couldn’t listen to some whining biased Australian commentators sugar coating a 20-8 loss
Sylvester
Guest
I think Elgey is a massive weak link for the Titans. Warriors prob should have put them to the sword, but old friend handling errors continues to linger. Great defence though.
Hard Yards
Roar Rookie
The GC really need to step into the room of mirrors after that. Mind you, I don't want to take anything away from the Warriors who haven't played as well as that for a year. Good win for them.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Thanks for joining me on the coverage, hope you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave your comments on the game.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Match report Warriors 20 Titans 8 The Warriors have made it two wins in a row to start their 2018 season, beating the Titans 20-8 at home at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland. It’s only the third time in the Warriors 24-year history that they’ve started a season off with two wins. The last time was way back in 2009. Winger David Fusitua scored two tries to follow up the double he scored in the Warriors' win over Souths last week in Perth. The Warriors scored two first half tries to head into the sheds leading 12-0, but it was the Titans who earlier had two first half tries disallowed. The first was when the Warriors defence was ruled to have been obstructed when Kane Elgey crossed, and winger Phillip Sami lost the ball over the line in the second missed opportunity. The Warriors made the Titans pay for Sami’s error, scoring in the next set. Tohu Harris threw a great ball to put centre Peta Hiku through a gap, and he drew Titans’ fullback Michael Gordon to put Fusitua over for the Warriors’ first try. The Warriors were in again six minutes later when halves Shaun Johnson and Blake Green ran a switch play, before Green turned the ball inside for captain and fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to score. The Warriors were keen to throw the ball around in the first half, playing some ad lib football and their defence was solid. Their attack became a bit too loose early in the second half, before they recovered again. The Titans almost hit back in the 61st minute, but winger Phillip Sami again had a try disallowed. The Warriors’ defence was ruled to have been obstructed again. In the 63rd minute, Tuivasa-Sheck chimed in on the left edge and offloaded to centre Solomone Kata, who used his size to barge over for a try out wide. Fusitua grabbed his second try eight minutes later to put the game out of the reach of the Titans. He leapt spectacularly to take a Shaun Johnson cross-field bomb and plant the ball down. The Titans finally cracked the Warriors' defence with four minutes to go, when winger Anthony Don grounded a Konrad Hurrell grubber. The Warriors will be happy with the win and their defence, though the Titans no doubt missed halfback Ash Taylor who was sidelined earlier in the week with a hamstring injury.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
Full-time The hooter sounds and its victory for Warriors! Warriors 20 Titans 8
John Coomer
Roar Guru
78’ Forward pass late in the restart set for the Titans, Warriors’ scrum feed 10 metres out from their own line. They’ll close it out now. Warriors 20 Titans 8
John Coomer
Roar Guru
77’ The Titans finally crack the Warriors’ defence with a Don scoring off a Hurrell grubber kick. The Warriors goal line defence has been very solid otherwise. Gordon converts the try but it’s too late for the Titans. Warriors 20 Titans 8
John Coomer
Roar Guru
76’ Try!! Titans (Don) Warriors 20 Titans 6 Kick to come
John Coomer
Roar Guru
The Warriors defence has been good, I thought they were a little loose in attack early in the second half but they've recovered well from that phase, which they often don't do. The Titans definitely missed Taylor in attack.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
74’ Titans’ scrum feed 15 metres out after a Warriors error. Warriors 20 Titans 2
Joe
Roar Rookie
That should seal it for the Warriors.I think this year they are now and 80 minute team. The Titans were pretty good too considering they're missing Taylor and a couple of starting forwards. I thought Rein provided a bit of spark when he came on and I think Peats should be trying to offer more in attack.
John Coomer
Roar Guru
73’ Short kick off from the Titans, they regather possession. Warriors 20 Titans 2
John Coomer
Roar Guru
72’ Spectacular leap from Fusitua to take a cross-field Johnson bomb to score his second try to go with his double against Souths last week. Johnson misses the conversion from out wide. Warriors 20 Titans 2
John Coomer
Roar Guru
71’ Try!! Warriors (Fusitua) Warriors 20 Titans 2 Kick to come
John Coomer
Roar Guru
69’ Repeat set for the Warriors now as Copley is trapped in goal. Warriors 16 Titans 2
John Coomer
Roar Guru
68’ Titans lose it late in the count, Warriors back in possession near halfway. Warriors 16 Titans 2
John Coomer
Roar Guru
66’ Titans back in possession after the Warriors complete their restart set. Warriors 16 Titans 2