Round 15
New Zealand Warriors 14 l. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 20

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

Location: Aus_NZ > National > First Grade Competition: NRL Telstra Premiership

Manly beat Warriors in torrid battle
Sun June 22, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Two tries conceded in the last eight minutes denied the Vodafone Warriors a vital victory against NRL competition leader Manly at Mt Smart Stadium today (Sunday).

The home side had taken a 14-10 lead through winger Aidan Kirk's aerial try in the 66th minute and were within reach of success.

Coming off losses to South Sydney and Cronulla, a win was critical as the Vodafone Warriors tried to keep their campaign on course.

Kirk's try, his third in his last five matches, offered real hope that this would be the day the Vodafone Warriors would claim one of their most important wins.

But from the restart after Kirk's try, they immediately lost possession, gifting Manly field position it wouldn't have expected.

And from there the Sea Eagles steeled themselves for a match-winning salvo, first Matt Ballin piercing through from dummy half in the 72nd minute and then prop Brent Kite powering onto an inside ball to cross in the 77th minute to take the score out to 20-14.

The Vodafone Warriors' only hope was to regain possession from the restart to have one last crack at Manly. It never came about. The kick-off failed to travel 10 metres, penalty to Manly on halfway and effectively game, set and match with it.

The performance left coach Ivan Cleary and captain Steve Price disappointed about some basic errors made that ultimately presented Manly with crucial points.

It was some consolation - but not much on the day - that the Vodafone Warriors had pushed the competition's leading side to the edge and the players knew how close they were to success.

Indeed the start to the match suggested this might be a breakthrough occasion after a run of few victories over the last two months.

Atrocious weather overnight and throughout much of the day (although it was generally fine during the match) had reduced the crowd to just 7141. But the core fans who were there, were delighted to see man mountain winger Manu Vatuvei and sharp shooter Michael Witt back from injury.

There was even more to be thrilled about in the 14th minute when Vatuvei, who had scored seven tries in seven games before being sidelined, was freed up 40 metres out after some slick ball movement. He sped past his marker and then took on the usually stronger defensive ability of Manly fullback Brett Stewart. It turned into no contest as Vatuvei stood up the New South Wales custodian to score a sensational opening try. Just as good was Witt's conversion from wide out. It looked like the pieces were falling back into place.

The only other scoring action in a tense first half came from Stewart who atoned for his miss on Vatuvei by scoring with some ease himself. Matt Orford couldn't convert and the Vodafone Warriors had a 6-4 halftime lead.

The second half didn't begin well when back rower Glenn Stewart was able to penetrate the home side's defensive line without much trouble, Orford converting for a 10-6 scoreline.

It didn't stay that way for too long as the Vodafone Warriors defended their own line strongly before finding joy at the other end of the field. An Ian Henderson grubber forced a Manly goal-line drop out and soon after Simon Mannering, switched to the centres, was over after a Nathan Fien grubber. Witt's conversion was pulled a little wide of the left-hand upright.

At 10-10, it was game on again and, in the 66th minute, Fien's bomb to Manly's right side yielded Kirk's spectacular leap and grab for the try that could have been a match-winner.

Match details:

At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland:
Vodafone Junior Warriors 14 (Manu Vatuvei, Simon Mannering, Aidan Kirk tries; Michael Witt conversion).
Manly Sea Eagles 20 (Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite tries; Matt Orford 2 conversions).
Halftime: 6-4 Vodafone Warriors.
Referee: Tony De Las Heras.
Crowd: 7141.

Report Source: www.warriors.co.nz

NRL: Warriors 14 v Sea Eagles 20
NYC: Warriors 38 v Sea Eagles 10


Warriors name Vatuvei and Witt for clash against leaders
Tue June 17, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Winger Manu Vatuvei and standoff Michael Witt are back for the Vodafone Warriors' 15th-round NRL clash against the competition-leading Manly Sea Eagles at Mount Smart Stadium on Monday.

Vatuvei (22) was originally scheduled for a return last month after being sidelined with a spiral fracture of his left fibula in the Vodafone Warriors' seventh-round loss to Gold Coast in April.

He slots back into his regular left winger's spot after scoring seven tries in the first seven matches of the season.

And Witt (23) will make his first appearance at NRL level since damaging his hip flexor while attempting a penalty against Canberra on May 4. He had no issues with the hip complaint when he played for the Auckland Vulcans against Wenworthville in their New South Wales Cup clash last Saturday.

In his first eight appearances of the year, Witt scored 70 points and had a goal-kicking success rate of almost 90 per cent.

Vatuvei's return sees Aidan Kirk switching to the right wing to replace Michael Crockett while Nathan Fien moves into halfback with Grant Rovelli named as 18th man.

"Manu was a chance of playing a couple of weeks ago but we decided to hold off," said Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary.

"And with Michael (Witt) available again, we had to decide whether Nathan (Fien) or Grant (Rovelli) would play at halfback. Ravs has been there all season and Fieny was moved from hooker to No 6 a couple of games ago. We're giving Fieny a crack this time."

Prop Ruben Wiki will move within a one match of becoming only the 10th player in the competition's history to make 300 appearances. With game No 299 scheduled at home against the Sea Eagles, the 35-year-old Wiki, who's in his 16th and last season in the NRL, would be in line to make his landmark 300th appearance against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on June 30.

Also reaching a milestone this weekend will be a prop 14 years young than Wiki - Sam Rapira (21) will play his 50th game since his debut in 2006.

The Vodafone Warriors will have the same starting pack that faced the Cronulla Sharks last weekend while Cleary has opted for four forwards on the bench. Props Rapira and Evarn Tuimavave are joined by recalled second rower Epalahame Lauaki - who turned out for the Auckland Vulcans last weekend - and 19-year-old back rower Ben Matulino, who impressed on debut against the Sharks.

Micheal Luck, who will play his 64th consecutive NRL match since joining the Vodafone Warriors for the 2006 season, is set to become the first player to reach the 500 tackles barrier this season. His 39 tackles against the Sharks lifted him to first place on the list for most tackles with 496, an average of 38.2 tackles a game.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v MANLY SEA EAGLES
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Sunday, June 22
2.00pm (NZ), 12:00pm (AEST)

Vodafone Warriors

1 Lance Hohaia
2 Aidan Kirk
3 Brent Tate
4 Jerome Ropati
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Michael Witt
7 Nathan Fien
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 Ian Henderson
10 Steve Price (c)
11 Simon Mannering
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck

Subs:
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Sam Rapira
18 Ben Matulino

18th Man: Grant Rovelli

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

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