Round 2
New Zealand Warriors 24 d. Brisbane Broncos 14

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Warriors make it two from two as Premiers remain winless
Mon March 26, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

The Vodafone Warriors made it back-to-back opening wins for the first time in the club's history with a powerful victory over 2006 NRL premiers the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium today.

After leading 24-10 at halftime, the home side withstood the Broncos to snare an outstanding 24-14 victory, their eighth in their last 13 matches against the Broncos.

Once again the success was built on an impressive first half performance although this time the Vodafone Warriors needed a recovery act to get back into the contest before going on to win it.

Having opened with an early Tony Martin penalty they conceded a chip-and-regather try to standoff Shane Perry in the 14th minute and another to second rower Sam Thaiday nine minutes later to fall 2-10 behind.

But the Vodafone Warriors weren't ruffled by the start and just three minutes later they launched an assault every bit as potent as the one which had given them a 24-0 halftime advantage against Parramatta last weekend.

In the 27th minute Nathan Fien's ball from dummy half put captain Steve Price over from close range - his second try in as many matches - and just four minutes later the Vodafone Warriors shifted the ball right, centre Tony Martin giving try-scoring machine Michael Crockett a clear run to the line. The try had followed a rare scrum win against the feed.

Martin's conversion hit an upright but suddenly the Vodafone Warriors were ahead 12-10.

They were far from finished, too.

In the 34th minute a Grant Rovelli kick was fumbled by the Broncos behind their line, standoff Michael Witt on hand to force the loose ball for his first try for his new club. It took an eternity but eventually the try was awarded on the benefit of the doubt rule (although there seemed to be very little doubt about it at all).

With Martin's conversion the scoreline leapt to 18-12 and then surged to 24-10 two minutes later.

Witt chipped over Brisbane's defensive line, regathered, the ball being shifted to Martin who gave Crockett the opening to squeeze in at the corner, just as he had done for his first try against the Eels in the first half last weekend.

Martin's conversion gave the home side a 24-10 halftime lead and a standing ovation from the crowd as the players headed to the sheds.

For Crockett, it was his second brace of tries in his first two NRL matches for his new club, giving him a career record of 11 from his 10 first-grade matches so far.

Halftime came at just the right time for Brisbane but not necessarily so for the Vodafone Warriors.

The second half was just six minutes old when Brisbane centre Brent Tate broke free to score wide out. With both Darren Lockyer and Corey Parker injured, the lack of a recognised kicker cost the Broncos, Joel Moon unable to convert leaving his side 14-24 behind.

It didn't seem at all likely with 34 minutes still to play but that was the way the score stayed for the rest of the match.

The Vodafone Warriors produced uncompromising defence to shut the Broncos out while at the same time failing to convert several chances that came their way.

This is the Vodafone Warriors' 13th season in the competition but until now they had never put together a record of played two, won two in the opening two rounds of the season.

The provisional statistics for the match showed seven Vodafone Warriors gaining more than 100 metres, including both centres, both wingers and outstanding fullback Wade McKinnon who was again the side's top metre-gainer (161 metres). McKinnon also topped the count once again for most tackle breaks with 12.

Topping the tackle count was back rower Micheal Luck with 37 and no misses.

Now the Vodafone Warriors face back-to-back matches on the road, first against Melbourne at Olympic Park next Sunday and then Manly the following Sunday at Brookvale Oval.

Their next home match is against North Queensland on April 15.

Match details:

At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland:
Vodafone Warriors 24 (Michael Crockett 2, Steve Price, Michael Witt tries; Tony Martin 3 conversions, penalty).
Brisbane Broncos 14 (Shane Perry, Sam Thaiday, Brent Tate tries; Sam Thaiday conversion).
Halftime: 24-10 Vodafone Warriors.
Referee: Paul Simpkins.
Crowd: 16,738.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz


Warriors as named for clash against Broncos
Sat March 24, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

The Vodafone Warriors are set to take the field as named for tomorrow's second-round NRL clash against 2006 premiers the Brisbane Broncos at Mt Smart Stadium.

The team completed its preparations for the match with a run at the ground this morning.

Head coach Ivan Cleary named only 17 players on Tuesday, unlike the season opener against Parramatta last week when he prepared with an 18-man squad before moving interchange prop Evarn Tuimavave back to premier league football with the Vodafone Auckland Lions.

With Louis Anderson unavailable after spraining an ankle against the Eels, Tuimavave has returned to the squad and is poised to come off the bench for his 50th first-grade match on Sunday. He made his NRL debut against Manly in 2002.

Standoff Michael Witt is poised to follow Tuimavave to the 50-match mark the following week against the Melbourne Storm at Olympic Park. He makes his 49th appearance on Sunday.

Second rower Logan Swann is in line to bring up a major milestone in two weeks. He plays his 148th first-grade match on Sunday, leaving him on track to become only the third player in the club's history to reach the 150 mark when the Vodafone Warriors meet Manly in the fourth round. Stacey Jones (238) and Awen Guttenbeil (170) are ahead of him.

Meanwhile, the Broncos are set to start with the same 17 players originally selected for the match.

They'll be without injured captain Darren Lockyer (ankle) and second rower Corey Parker (wrist). Also on their casualty list is back rower David Stagg (shoulder).

TEAMS
? There are no changes to either team at this stage for tomorrow's match.
? The Vodafone Warriors made just one change to the side that beat Parramatta 34-18. Louis Anderson, who started at loose forward after originally being named on a five-man bench, is out with a sprained ankle. Micheal Luck has been named to start in the No 13 jersey with Evarn Tuimavave coming onto a four-man bench.

CASUALTY WARD
? Wairangi Koopu (shoulder) indefinite
? Patrick Ah Van (shoulder) Round 4
? Aidan Kirk (knee) Round 6
? Louis Anderson (ankle) Round 3

STATISTICS
? The Vodafone Warriors have won nine of their last 13 NRL matches. They have won each of their last four matches at Mt Smart Stadium (against Cronulla, North Queensland, the Sydney Roosters and Parramatta) and six of their last seven stretching back to the 30-18 home win against the Knights on June 18 last year.
? New winger Michael Crockett, who became Vodafone Warrior No 133 last week, scored two tries against Parramatta in his club debut to give him nine tries in his nine NRL matches so far.
? Steve Price made 23 hit ups/runs against Parramatta, more than any other player in the first round of the 2007 NRL.
? Fullback Wade McKinnon gained 186 metres against the Eels, a total bettered only by Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello (199) and Knights winger James McManus (190).
? Evarn Tuimavave will bring up his 50th NRL appearance on Sunday.
? Michael Witt will play his 49th NRL match on Sunday.
? Logan Swann will play his 148th NRL match on Sunday.
? Tony Martin scored 10 points against Parramatta to take him past 300 (302) first-grade career points and beyond 200 (204) points for the Vodafone Warriors.
? Grant Rovelli and Micheal Luck will be making their 26th consecutive appearances for the Vodafone Warriors tomorrow. They haven't missed a match since joining the club last year.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS V BRISBANE BRONCOS
? Overall: Played 21, Won 7, Lost 14
? At Mt Smart Stadium: Played 10, Won 4, Lost 6
? Biggest win: 32-12 at ANZ Stadium, 2003
? Most recent win: 30-18, Mt Smart Stadium, 2005

CURTAIN-RAISER
? The Vodafone Auckland Lions play their second match in the New South Wales Premier League when they face 2006 beaten grand finalists the Newtown Jets in tomorrow's curtain-raiser (kick-off 1.50pm).
? Some changes have been made to the line-up that beat Parramatta 27-8 last Saturday. Constantine Mika is on the injured list after a head knock against the Eels, meaning Cooper Vuna has moved into the centres to replace him with Dave Fisi'iahi coming onto the left wing.
? Kiwi Jerome Ropati was originally named in the side to make his comeback from injury, pushing captain Steve Buckingham to halfback and Isaac John to the bench.
? Simon Head will start at hooker instead of Kelvin Wright and Wayne McDade will partner Russell Packer as the starting props.
? The back row is the same while prop Leeson Ah Mau comes onto the bench for Shannon Stowers along with back rower Jaye Pukepuke.
? Five players from the Vodafone Warriors' NRL squad were named in the side for this week's game ? centres Cooper Vuna and Todd Byrne, stand off Jerome Ropati, second rower Sonny Fai and loose forward Corey Lawrie.
? Four players in the Vodafone Auckland Lions have NRL experience ? Todd Byrne (92 games, 2001-06), Jerome Ropati (58 games, 2003-06), Cooper Vuna (5 games, 2004-2006) and Steve Buckingham (2 games, 1997).

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v BRISBANE BRONCOS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
4.00pm, Sunday, March 25, 2007

New Zealand Warriors
1 Wade Mckinnon
2 Michael Crockett
3 Tony Martin
4 Lance Hohaia
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Michael Witt
7 Grant Rovelli
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 George Gatis
10 Steve Price (c)
11 Simon Mannering
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck

Subs:
14 Nathan Fien
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Sam Rapira

Coach:
Ivan Cleary


Brisbane Broncos
1 Justin Hodges
2 Steve Michaels
3 Brent Tate
4 Joel Moon
5 Darius Boyd
6 Shane Perry
7 Karmichael Hunt
8 Dane Carlaw
9 Shaun Berrigan
10 Petero Civoniceva (c)
11 Sam Thaiday
12 Brad Thorn
13 Tonie Carroll

Subs:
14 Nick Kenny
15 Ben Hannant
16 Greg Eastwood
17 John Te Reo

Coach:
Wayne Bennett

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue March 20, 2007
• Tuimavave in Warriors squad for Brisbane clash
  

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