WESTS TIGERS 18, WARRIORS 16
KEY POINTS
BENJI GETS TIGERS OFF TO A WINNING START: The Benji Marshall teaching period on the Wests Tigers has begun in auspicious style after a slender trial victory over a Warriors facet who battled away with 12 gamers for almost all of the conflict. Trial sport kind isn’t a dependable indicator of how a workforce will fare come the principle season however there will probably be sighs of reduction coming from the Tigers following a two-point victory on the street in Christchurch. After consecutive wood spoons, the strain is on Marshall to ship in his maiden season as head coach and he will probably be happy with the resolve confirmed by his workforce to discover a strategy to win. The Tigers opened up an 18-6 lead, due to tries from Alex Seyfarth, Aidan Sezer and Sione Latoa-Vaihu, earlier than holding on in a hard-fought fixture 4 weeks out from their season-opener in opposition to Canberra in spherical two. New Tigers halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Jayden Sullivan mixed properly, whereas Sione Fainu (162 run metres) and Fonua Pole (102 metres) have been glorious for the guests in a forward-dominated sport.
WARRIORS FORWARD SENT OFF FOR HIGH SHOT: Warriors enforcer Zyon Maiu’u will face a nervous wait after being despatched off 20 minutes into the match for a excessive shot on Declan Casey. Play was stopped for greater than 5 minutes as Casey was taken from the sphere on a stretcher with a suspected concussion. Maiu’u protested the decision to depart the sphere however replays confirmed there was clear excessive contact that will probably be handled by the match evaluate committee. The Warriors will stay at house for one more trial match in opposition to the Dolphins on Saturday in Auckland earlier than a spherical one outing in opposition to the Sharks on March 8.
TUIVASA-SHECK SHINES IN RETURN FROM RUGBY: After two seasons in New Zealand rugby, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck gave league followers a reminder of what he can convey to the 13-man sport after a refined efficiency in his new place at centre. Tuivasa-Sheck had the third most run metres for his facet (133) and was strong in defence when his facet have been down a person for a lot of the match. The Warriors have been lacking quite a few their large names who’re prone to return final week with hopes of bettering on the workforce’s preliminary closing end final season.
Warriors ahead Zyon Maiu’u is distributed off for a excessive shot on Tigers centre Declan Casey.Credit score: Fox