NRL 2018

Oh hell, Green has been sent to the bin.

These guys really are unbelievably dumb.

They say the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result....

Warriors penalty count up to 10 now

BUT, the attitude of these fullas is impressive, they just work bloody hard for each other. Despite all the conceded penalties they are a pleasure to watch.

To be up 10-0 at the break after spending much of the half in their own 20 is astounding.

First 9 minutes after the break is crucial for the Warriors with Green off the park.
If they can tough that out and not let the Dragons score, I’d say they’ll have gone a long way to winning this one.

Fuck Hunt scores on what was probably the last defensive set for the Warriors before Green comes back.

Warriors need to stop the Dragons offloads, coz they’re looking real dangerous on the back of them.

Momentum all with the Dragons, Warriors need some field position

Good defensive set there, then a penalty to Warriors on tackle zero.
Just what the doctor ordered

Aaaahhh what a waste, Gelling bundled into touch on about tackle 2

Mason Lino taken late, refs miss it

Warriors double their offload count from 5 to 10 in one tackle, Warriors of old in action there.

That was a fucking moronic pass!!

Intercept try Dragons.

That was not needed, we’d diffused the Dragons play then got on the front foot before throwing that intercept.

Fuck not what you need in an arm wrestle.

STOP THE BUS, no try!!!

Knock on Dragons in contest in the air before the intercept.

Big big moment there.

Haha shit that was lucky.

Luke you bloody beauty!!!!!!!
40/20

Isaac Luke with two huge plays in a minute there.

Luke darts over, you fucking little champion.

Score please?

@crazy-horse Warriors 16-6, 12 minutes to go.

16-6 to the Warriors with 12 to go.

@gunner thanks mate

Not played at? Tough call against Blair

STOP THE OFFLOADS, please!!!!

Try Dragons
Widdop won’t miss, 16-12, 7 to play.

Fuck yesss!!!!!!!

That’ll do it.

That will do it!!

Yeeeesssss....

Lining up to score

Great win, last years Warriors would have lost this game by 20

I don't really follow league. How many wins from how many games are the Warriors now?

@stargazer said in NRL 2018:

I don't really follow league. How many wins from how many games are the Warriors now?

6 from 7 now

@virgil That's awesome!

Well 1 Auckland sporting team has to do well in 2018

@stargazer said in NRL 2018:

@virgil That's awesome!

And beat the unbeaten Dragons tonight. They are the real deal this year.

@virgil said in NRL 2018:

Great win, last years Warriors would have lost this game by 20

At least

Nightingale: "felt like we were on the back foot even though we had the ball which was a bit demoralising".

Warriors defense has been brutal this year.

We're getting Souths style peak Isaac Luke this season. He was everywhere on defence and attack, the 40/20 and try were typical of his influence tonight. We made mistakes that put us under pressure, and from my seat we got the short end of the stick from the ref regarding offsides in particular. But what a massive defensive effort, we simply refused to yield. Not our best offensive game but that one has to be bloody satisfying for everyone in the team and coaching staff. If no one was paying us much attention before they will be well aware of us now

STATEMENT GAME.

I'm having a hard time holding these alligators down!

Us against the world: Nothing was going right for the Warriors in this game. They lose one of their key playmakers prior to the game, lose a key forward during the game to concussion, have their main playmaker for the game sinbinned on a dubious call, have no ball or any possession and all this against the best team in the league. To win this game showed how committed the side is to playing defence, they seem to enjoy it more than playing with the ball. The Dragons were creative on attack but they could not break the Warriors wall enough times.

The Replacements: Question - is Mason Lino a better fit for this team than Shaun Johnson? He's got a better overall kicking game, loves to run out of dummyhalf, and is willing to play second fiddle to Blake Green. In his two games the Warriors seem to be a tad more consistent on attack. Shaun Johnson is the better player, he can single-handily win a game by himself, but Mason is putting forward a case. I criticised Anthony Gelling last week but it was nice to see him score a try tonight. He also made a couple of nice plays including defusing a Dragons bomb.

The real MVP: Isaac Luke was in fine form tonight. His 40/20 and subsequent try won the game for the Warriors but so did his dummyhalf running and pesky defending. Him and Jazz Tevaga are proving to be a good hooker/lock duo during the match.

What about the other guys? 6-0 is now 6-1. The Dragons would have won this game against most other NRL clubs but the Warriors tenacious defending meant Gareth Widdop and Ben Hunt just couldn't get it done. Meanwhile their star fullback Matt Dufty, who has been more elusive than Lord Lucan, was ragdolled all night long.

Let's hear it for the refs: Ben Cummins and Henry Perenara made some 'unique' calls. Ten minutes after warning Roger Tuivasa-Sheck about his team taking a number of penalties the refs sent Blake Green off for a minor penalty. I understand sending someone off if there are a number of penalties in a one-minute span but ten minutes later? Come on. Also bad call: calling back the Dragons intercept because James Graham knocked on in midair two to three plays prior. I personally loved the call but think the advantage was well and truly over. One of the few times you'll hear rival fans yelling the same chant in unison: "Hey refs! You suck!"

Excellent win. Loved how our forwards played, especially against one of the top 3 packs in the NRL.

Agree that last year we would’ve fallen away in the second half, but our intent and attitude is completely different. Love it.

@sneakdefreak the intercept try being called back was karma, I would have accepted it was a try but was happy with the get square

I'm not really sure what to say. What do you do when everything you believe, everything you KNOW to be true, is busy being proved wrong, right in front of your eyes?

This may sound nuff-tastic, but is there a chance the warriors took their eyes off the ball last week, looking forward to this one?

What was the final penalty count? I was only watching after the rugby finished but Cummins wanted to penalise the Warriors off the park. His conversation with RTS said it all.

That was one of the most absorbing games I've watched involving the warriors. We just loved them to death, with lots of big friendly hugs. And we got especially frisky in our own 20!!

Luke! Fuck yeah, do work son! Dude has definitely got his mojo back. I reckon he feeds a lot off the energy of our forward pack, and that's been lacking over the last couple of years. But this year shit is different, there is a tangible buzz around the guys. I also think that Lino sparks him a bit too.

Some great efforts across the park. Losing Tohu (do we know if he is ok?) early was a massive test. Blair was really impressive, big minutes and he was talking heaps on D. Still a penalty risk but we seems to be getting more diamonds than rocks at the moment. Nod to big Ken M too, proving me wrong every week so far with effort and effectiveness.

Fusitua is still not quite there. But he was in the game and working hard - he's an immense talent so it won't be long till normal service resumes.

ps Points differential is poo had missed that we'd only go level with the Dragons, thought I'd be seeing us at #1!! Soon!

TAB now has them at $7 to win it all.

Sportbet has them @ $12 and doubtless had them at longer (and more realistic) odds at the start of the season.