Round 13
Warriors 18 l. Broncos 23

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Match Review: Warriors vs Broncos
Tue June 6, 2006
It was another classic Warriors v Broncos match on Sunday afternoon at Ericsson Stadium. After some early rain the sun came out but only 7,746 fans turned up for the match, the lowest this season at Ericsson and the fifth lowest in the Warriors history. Patrick Ah Van was a late addition to the squad in place of Misi Taulapapa, who was dropped for team misconduct.

After 6 minutes of play Nathan Fien passed to Ah Van on the wing, who scored his first NRL try after three games with the Warriors. Martin converted brilliantly from the sideline and the Warriors were up 6-0.

Both teams played good football before in the 13th minute when the ball was spread wide to Tame Tupou, the Kiwi international, who touched down in the corner for the Broncos. After a couple of weeks of poor goalkicking, Corey Parker converted from the sideline and the scores were tied up at 6-6.

In the 17th minute a kick by Shane Perry was charged down by Steve Price and when no other player could regather it Grant Rovelli picked up the ball and put on a goose step, before passing to Ruben Wiki who smile all the way to the try line as Jake the Muss picked up his first try of the game. Martin converted the easier kick than his first and the Warriors were up 12-6, defying many peoples expectations.

After Tame Tupou got injured another Kiwi, Greg Eastwood, was brought into the game. Eastwood, who normally plays second-rower, got his chance on the wing. It didnt take long for him to show his skill though, crossing over in the 22nd minute, and from the sideline once again, Corey Parker put the ball through the sticks for a 12-all deadlock.

Eastwood must have thought it was his birthday after exposing some pretty weak Warriors defence down the right hand side and scoring in the 30th minute. Corey Parker was dead on the money from the sideline for the third time straight, slotting the conversion to make the score 18-12 to the boys from Brisbane. The new right-hand defence of Wairangi Koopu and Tony Martin was getting shown up by the Brisbane attack.

Halftime came without one penalty being given to either team.

After halftime it didnt take long for Ruben Wiki to cross for his second try after a brilliant Micheal Luck pass. Martin continued the 100% goalkicking for the day by converting and the scores were tied up once again at 18-18. Lockyer then promptly kicked out on the full and the first penalty of the game was blown.

Much time passed with the game being a back and forward defensive game, but the Broncos were starting to look more threatening.

In the 74th minute, Darren Lockyer used the Broncos superior field position to bang over a field goal from close range and give the Broncos a 19-18 advantage.

Then, after some good Brisbane play, Shaun Berrigan ran over in the 76th minute to all but seal the win. The Warriors were given some late hope though, with Corey Parker breaking his perfect record with the boot, and the score being 23-18, within range of a converted try. Despite this, the Warriors couldnt find their way towards the line and the fulltime hooter sounded with the Broncos up 23-18.

The Warriors definitely looked like a much improved unit from the team that played the Cronulla Sharks last weekend, but with another loss are all but out of finals contention. The Broncos, meanwhile, remain at the top of the ladder with the Melbourne Storm.

Article written by warriors4life

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