The Roosters secured their fifth win of the season, keeping the Warriors from scoring a point during their 14-0 victory at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.
With the wet and wild weather, the Roosters were able to capitalise on their opportunities better than the Warriors. Holding 48 per cent of the possession, they made better use of their time with the ball, completing 75 per cent of their sets and crossing for two tries.
“We had enough ball to win tonight,” said Warriors coach Andrew Webster.
“I wish we had iced a few more moments and scored a couple more tries.”
But in the end, it was the defence that won it for the visitors, with huge efforts from the likes of Matt Lodge, Nat Butcher and Lindsay Collins helping to keep the Warriors to nil.
“Really satisfying,” said Roosters coach Trent Robinson of the win.
“The conditions dictated what kind of style of game it was going to be. To hold them to zero and then sneak in a couple of tries was really pleasing.”
Both teams had a short turnaround after playing in the respective Anzac Day matches. It was always going to be a tall ask for the home side who were without injured stars like Tohu Harris and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. There were also many players out of position with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak playing fullback, Marata Niukore in the front row, Josh Curran moved into the back row and Addin Fonua-Blake playing at lock.
Adding to that were some harsh calls that would have left many Warriors fans scratching their head. But when questioned on the officiating, Webster wasn’t going to get caught up in the topic.
“No excuses. We were the ones who had the impact on the result,” said Webster.
“I’ve said from the word go…every press conference this year someone has spoken to me about a referee or a decision or a moment. And I get it, they are looking for me to get a fine or make a stupid comment.
“It’s not going to be perfect, the refs aren’t always going to get it right, I get frustrated like anyone, but at the end of the day, they scored after that (penalty) because of us.”
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was a late withdrawal for the Roosters, and his effectiveness was definitely missed up the middle. It was the second week the Tricolours played without young halfback Sam Walker, with Joey Manu partnering Luke Keary once again in the halves.
Both teams adapted quite well despite the weather, still managing relatively high completion rates during the first half considering the conditions. The sides were playing the long game, keeping risks to a minimum, and the kicking games of both Keary and Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson were impressive.
The Roosters opened the scoring with a penalty goal in just the fourth minute after the Warriors were caught offside. The harsh conditions made scoring opportunities difficult for both sides, with Nat Butcher finally crossing for the visitors with the day’s first try with five minutes left in the first half and they headed to the sheds with an 8-0 lead.
But the Roosters began to take control of the game after the break, and as the rain got heavier in the second half, the errors from the Warriors began to grow. They looked certain to score in the 52nd minute but Jackson Ford lost control of the ball over the try line. The home side continued to turn the ball over in their own half gifting the Roosters much need opportunities to extend their lead. After yet another dropped ball, Sitili Tupouniua was quick to take advantage and score from the scrum, with the visitors jumping out to a 14-0 lead.
The Warriors’ next best opportunity came with just seven minutes on the clock, but some desperate goal-line defence kept Watene-Zelezniak from scoring, with Lindsay Collins diving on the loose ball.
The home side kept coming in the final minutes but as the heavens opened up once more, the Roosters held on for a 14-point lead, and the Warriors took out their first loss at home for the year.
With Sam Walker still playing in NSW Cup, the Roosters have notched up their second win in a row with Manu and Keary parenting in the halves.
With Manu proving to be one of the most versatile players in the competition never looking out of place at fullback or in the centres, it seems the Roosters lift when he is at five-eighth and able to get his hands on the ball more often.
There could be some tough decisions ahead for the Roosters coach.
When asked if Manu was a long-term option for the summer six jumper, Robinson was quick to joke.
“He’s a long-term option as a player for us!”
But he wasn’t giving anything away on the plan moving forward.
“As for that role, that’s more a week-to-week (decision),” said Robinson.
“Obviously, I’ve got three really good halves. We’ll see.”
Much like the Cowboys’ rise through the ranks last season, the Warriors are without doubt the most improved side so far for 2023.
The difference between the performances from the past few years to what they have produced this season has been chalk and cheese. The resilience and determination they have shown in all of their games would undoubtedly have their fans excited about where they are and what’s still to come.
And while so much talk surrounded the Panthers losing assistant coach Cameron Crialdo and the impact that would have on the premises, it seems not enough credit was given to their other assistant, Andrew Webster. The former Penrith assistant has been a breath of fresh air in his first head coaching role in the NRL, and while being based at home has no doubt made a positive impact on the Warriors, there is no denying how much Webster has added to the change in the Warriors fortunes.
But with their loss on Sunday to the Roosters, as well as going down to the Storm last week, has the bubble burst for our mates across the ditch?
ppa19696837
Roar Rookie
So funny watching fans having a whinge about whether a player should have been binned or not! As if that is the reason they didn't win! Even the coach knows this! Seriously, do fans really rely on a player being binned to win a game or any odd ref decision for that matter? Fair enough if in the same game you have a player binned, but keeping the game at 13 on 13 should be a priority! All fans should be advocating for this.... don't bin anyone unless it's a profesional foul or a super serious issue that takes a player out (then it's almost worth a send off) You can disect any game and find many inconsistancies on both sides and the realit is, a team has more control on the result of a game than the ref! Andrew Wester knows this and will be working on those things during the week!
Dave
Roar Rookie
The Warriors got almost twice the number of penalties/six agains than the Roosters and you think the Warriors were hard done by the ref??? Did you see Butcher take the swinging arm to the jaw from the Warriors player when he scored? It was an order of magnitude worse than the kind of maybe shoulder charge that the ref, players and commentators all thought wasn't a shoulder charge. Even if it was a shoulder charge, it was a penalty at best. If the Warriors want to win when they are gifted possession and field position all day by the ref, almost every set of six in their own half, they need to do something other than run one out and then pray from a kick. The Roosters won despite the caning they got from the ref.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
Sounds to me, Dave you’ve received a few of those harmless no arm tackles yourself! Take it easy. Peace for your evening.
Dave
Roar Rookie
It was dubious it was a shoulder charge at all, it was with little force as all momentum had been stopped by Collins, it wasn't high, he wrapped with his right arm. At absolute most it was a penalty, if anything at all. It is really dubious when fans say their team was robbed by the ref whilst winning the penalty/six again count 9-5. They were gifted field possession all match by nit pick penalties against the Roosters whilst apparently being absolute angels all game. The Warriors lost because despite a ridiculous lions share of possession and field position courtesy of the ref never looked like scoring apart from kicks.
Jokerman
Roar Guru
The Roosters got away with a couple of knock ons that everyone saw. The shoulder charge was something else as it was seen live and then slow mo. There was no mitigation, it was 100% shoulder charge, and an illegal act. If that was from a Warrior it’s a penalty and ten in the bin every time. Where is the integrity of this comp? I watch Super rugby and this level of intentional biased officiating doesn’t happen. If the Warriors ever want to win this comp they need some mixed refs from NZ, Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. And remember this was a home game for the Warriors! Same stuff happened last week (neutral ref Warriors win), showing no respect on Anzac day.
Dumbo
Roar Rookie
Don't hold your breath waiting for Andrew Abdo to shout that it is "unacceptable" and that he will start an inquiry on Monday. He will go berserk over a minor incident which definitely had no impact on the outcome of one game, but not on consistent poor decision-making which may have had an impact on the outcome of another game.
Dave
Roar Rookie
Penalty count 6-4 to Warriors, six agains 3-1 to the Warriors. Nat butcher copped a swinging arm to the jaw whilst scoring – no penalty. Jaxson Paulo called in touch when he clearly wasn’t, Manu penalised wrongly twice, once because the Warriors player stupidly tried an offload thinking he was going near touch but wasn’t, another when Manu played the ball correctly with a Warriors player holding on for an eternity. The Tesdeco one wasn’t a knock on, the ball touched the ground but Tedesco had already caught the ball well before it touched the ground. The Sitiili tackle was more 50-50 but was a penalty at best – the swinging arm on Butcher’s jaw by the Warriors was way worse. The penalty when Tedesco played the ball was a bit harsh, but it was tackle one and the Roosters had got the ball, it wasn’t like the Warriors player got the ball – it should have been play on with Roosters ball.
Big Mig
Roar Rookie
Warriors can rightly feel hard done by the sub-standard officiating in this game. The Sitili shoulder charge (no arms) was a certain bin, yet nothing to see, plays on and later scores. At one point Teddy played the ball with no dummy half yet Warriors got penalised, and of course, Teddy blatant knock on not picked up in front of warriors posts. Really poor ref and bunker who will get to repeat it all again next week.
Nakinz 14
Roar Rookie
No way ..we def can be top 8 side .. would help ..if the refs made the Right decisions such as the shoulder charge that was miss ..next play roosters score ..throw in the short turn around . Thanks nrl .. where was our bye .. throw in the injuries . Seeing the tigers beat Penrith .. def on our way