In from of a packed house of just under 26,000 the New Zealand Warriors dominated the Sydney Roosters to record an amazing 30-13 win.
The game pretty much went as I expected, the Warriors started strong, the Roosters fought back and looked very good for about 20 minutes, and then halfback came and went and it was all the Warriors from there.
The Warriors destroyed the Roosters with dummy half running. Sometimes dummy half running can be boring, usually when a team is only running from dummy half because its the safe option. But the Warriors ran from dummy half all night to capitalize on dreadful Roosters defense around the ruck and they were carving up the meters every single time.
There was a very contraversial penalty try awarded to the Roosters Anthony Minichello in the first half. A kick through saw the ball grubber into the in goal and a Warriors player and Minichello both fought to get to the ball.
Eventually Minichello knocked it on and the video ref was called. To be honest, I was happy enough for a 20 meter restart to the Warriors, but for a penalty try to be awarded was a disgrace!
I have no problems with penalty tries, they are not called enough. But going on consistency, that one last night should never have been awarded, especially after many certain penalty tries have not been awarded in the past.
The thing that will live with me forever from this game was in the 60th minute, after a try and with 25,000 Kiwi’s cheering him on, Ruben Wiki gets the ball from the kick off and is roaring as he fearlessly charges at the line. He is hit by 4 Roosters players, all four get dominated in the hit with one being knocked senseless, not from a head clash, but just from the sheer concussion of the hit…..amazing!
This win put the Warriors into the major semi final against the Manly Sea Eagles next week in Sydney. As for the Roosters, their season is done and Brad Fittler has to look at getting a few players in that can play a full 80 minutes.
