Hey Guys
Went along today, not the best game but we will bounce back. Wrote up a report. Have a squiz and a feedback
Fan In The Stand
10 mins ·
Hey team
Wow what a week if you were a Warriors reserve grade supporter. There were highs and lows everywhere. Firstly last week was the comeback 18-18 draw against Newcastle, then on Tuesday the high of seeing Manu back and named in the team, then the low of finding out resident hitman Tof Sipley will be taking his talents to Manly next season. That a massive low. But there was a game being played today so The Fan In The Stand running on minimal sleep after finshing work at 7am packed up the family and jumped in the car to head out to Blacktown to see the juggernaut continue against the Manly Sea Eagles reserve grade team. After last nights first grade team putting on a clinic against the Titans, all Warriors fans must be happy and i was buzzing about this game.
On the way out i was thinking about the presence Manu would have on this team. Hes on the comeback trail after a couple of injuries, and with the first grade wingers kicking ass it looks like he will have to fight his way back into the team starting with todays game. Manu is a icon at the Warriors and have to remember no other NRL player in the history of the game has scored 10 or more tries in 10 seasons of first grade. So Manu will pose a threat in any team hes in. Manly who play under the Blacktown Workers banner have a few familiar names in their team in Ex Warriors Shaun Lane, Pita Godinet and not everyones cup of tea Johnno Wright. We have some late changes with Sam Cook going from hooker to standoff, Charlie Gubb is starting with Tof back to the bench and midweek signing Manaia Cherrington also on the bench.
Get to the park about 20 minutes before kickoff and see that the field is in absolute shithouse condition. Its bogged and puddles all in the middle. We have had some decent rain this week in sydney but this field is poos. Even the adjacent field that the boys are warming up on is torn up with their warm ups. Also it has no covered stands and out seats are drenched. The boys are currently sitting 2nd on the ladder and Manly 2nd last but with these conditions im thinking it will level things out with our gun backline used to carving up in dry conditions. The teams are getting set for kick off and Manu is on our side of the field, sheesh he looks lean, fit and trimmed and most importantly keen. Pretty good ground announcer today, only stuffed up 1 name in the team sorry Ofahighkigh???? its Ofahiki idiotdick. But sometimes when he started talking to the people next to him he forgot to turn the mic off haha reminded me of the old Papa Ruru days from Rotorua Radio.
So Manly kick off and Ligi Sao hits it up strongly but looses it in the tackle. Oh boy!!! Scrum to manly and they hit it up and we are penalised on their 1st tackle. They take the tap and we are penalised again on the first tackle FFS!!! They tap it again and 4 tackles later they spin it wide and their winger Peter Shuster dives over for a try which Jackson Hastings converts. So after 2 minutes we have had 1 error, been penalised twice and are down 6-0, worst possible start ever. 2nd set much better as Charnze takes a great bomb, Manu then hits it up and we get a penalty and get out of trouble. Couple of sets later we are hot on attack but Isaiah Papalii spills a tough pass which the conditions didnt help. Soon after we get another penalty and Ofa Ogden makes a strong hitup with an awesum offload to Tevaga who also produces another awesum offload creating 3rd phase play but CNK knocks on. Looks like the boys are playing to their strengths in the bleak conditions. Another attacking set sees us throw a lot at them but Manly hold out and a great chip by Mason sees Jackson Hastings gather and save a try. When Manly have the ball we force an error then get a penalty due to backchat from one of the Manly players. We march down field and earn a repeat set with a nice Lino kick being forced in goal.
Ligi SAo has been working his ass off with 2 hitups in the last 2 sets of 6 and making good metres to. After his last play the ball we put on a backline move which sees it spread and Mason takes it to the line and gets away a chip which sees Paulos Latu score our first try after a couple of Manly players dived and missed. Mason coverts and its 6-6 after 23 minutes. No one really takes notice of Lino doing the conversion as there is a guy on his Harley doing donuts down the road hahaha good ol Blacktown. Tof Sipley has now come on to cause havoc and tear shit up with Gubby having a break. We are on attack again after a couple of minutes and James Bell comes up with a great run helped by a quick play the ball and Sam Cook bombs for Manu who dives but jusssssssstttt misses out. Got his finger tips, would of been try of the year if had come off. 20m restart Manly. Unfortuanitly Manly march upfield and put on a backline play and have a 3 on 3 move but Manu flies in off the wing and they skip the centre and the winger goes over for a try in the corner. AGain Hastings converts 12-6 23 gone. Couple of sets later Ogden does another awesum offload creating more 2nd phase play. Next set Manly make a break down our right side and chip ahead for Peter Schuster to score his 2nd try. Even though i hate Manly that was a good long range try. Hastings convert 18-6.
After we kick off Papalii forces an error and dives on the loose ball and the Manly player smacks him with a swinging arm. I blow up but no penalty and Tevaga runs in and grabs the guy and he gets penalised. Kefs!!!! What about the swinging arm. Tevaga is replaced pretty much after that and debutant Manaia Cherrington comes on and in the following set makes a great blind side dart and unloads to Semisi Fotu but he cant handle and possible try bombed. Next set Tof Sipley monsters up and has a mass collision with with Manlys Everett Vaurasi and gets up heaps dusty and groggy, Lino forces a goal line dropout and from the kick Chris Satae runs straight for Vaurasi and runs over him and hes KOed, TAXI!!!! Play is stopped while he gets helped off. We cant score but again produce good 2nd phase footy from Manu and Bell. But just on halftime Pita godinet makes a line break and they score another try which Hastings convert so at halftime we are 24-6 down.
Halftime Thoughts
* Even though we down 3 tries i dont see any panic from the boys although in this crap field its going to be hard. They are the comeback kings
* Pat Sipley still on the bench????
* Ball handling is letting us down a little again due to the conditions
* Manly have made some concerning line breaks which sees them score a couple of long range tries
* Papalii has made about 1000 tackles, Manu up and down but being contained well. Tof Sipley is making HUGE collisions, James Bell very busy, Ogden great offloads
* Manaia Cherrington has made a huge difference
* CNK being nullified due to the conditions
* Theres about 100 people here and a good sprinkling of Warriors supporters. Jerseys, polos caps and scarfs everywhere
