Round 7
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 l. New Zealand Warriors 18

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

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

Warriors beat Souths with 30 seconds remaining
Sun April 29, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

A breathtaking Todd Byrne try on the stroke of fulltime gave the Vodafone Warriors one of their greatest comeback victories when they beat South Sydney at Telstra Stadium today (Sunday).

With less than four minutes left, the Rabbitohs were 16-8 ahead and on course for their fifth win of the season.

But a dazzling blitz left the South Sydney faithful - including owners Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court - numb as the Vodafone Warriors produced two strikes in the last three minutes to snatch a pulsating 18-16 win.

First fullback Wade McKinnon speared onto a Steve Price off load and left South Sydney defenders grasping as he scorched 45 metres for a fabulous try, his second of the season. Tony Martin's conversion reduced the margin to 14-16 with not much more than two minutes left.

There was time for the Vodafone Warriors to take the ball right upfield, coming close to forcing a repeat set only for David Peachey to scramble the ball back into play.

From that set the Rabbitohs put the ball in touch in the 79th minute, looking to wind the clock down. The Vodafone Warriors responded by swiftly packing a scrum to stop the clock with less than a minute remaining.

They worked the ball right and, early in the tackle count, standoff Michael Witt poked through a perfectly weighted kick in behind the flat South Sydney defensive line.

The ball stopped just over the goal-line, Byrne racing through on a superbly-timed run to collect and score the 48th and arguably most memorable try of his career.

It triggered understandably delirious celebrations first from Byrne and almost instantaneously the entire team as he was swamped by his fellow players.

Having scored in his first game of the season against North Queensland two weeks ago, this was unquestionably a try of far greater significance in the context not just of this game but of the club's season and even Byrne's career.

It was at Telstra Stadium and on the same side of the field that Byrne had an experience that has always stayed with him - that moment in the 2003 NRL grand final when Penrith's Scott Sattler cut Byrne down when he was set free for what seemed certain to be a try. This time there was no stopping him.

For the Vodafone Warriors the try was reward - some would say justice - on a day when they endured extreme hardship with a number of calls by the match officials.

And in terms of the season the result was of massive importance as the Vodafone Warriors collected their first away win of the year after failing previously against Melbourne and Manly. Indeed, it was only their second win in seven away matches since, ironically, beating the Rabbitohs 66-0 at Telstra Stadium in June last year; the only other win had been the 24-20 upset of minior premiers the Melbourne Storm in August.

This win owed much to perseverance, patience and grit in the face of considerable obstacles.

The Vodafone Warriors had opened the scoring when halfback Grant Rovelli swooped on a Joe Williams pass and scooted 90 metres for his second try in successive matches. Martin converted and then added a 17th minute penalty for an 8-0 lead.

The lead might have been far more significant but for the video referee ruling out two other touchdowns for obstruction.

Witt and hooker Nathan Fien both crossed only for the contentious obstruction rule to be enforced, ensuring neither try stood. The Fox Sports commentary team, including rugby league legend Wayne Pearce, was bemused about both rullings.

The two would-be tries were scored either side of Martin's penalty and, given those let-offs, fate had it that the Rabbitohs would profit, scoring their only points of the half through a try to former Kiwi centre Nigel Vagana in the 29th minute.

The Vodafone Warriors were across again early in the second half, Martin appearing to beat Logan Swann to touch down a Rovelli bomb spilled behind South Sydney's line. It, too, was ruled out when Byrne was judged to have tackled Nathan Merritt in the air as he tried to defuse the bomb.

There was another reverse moments later when replacement hooker George Gatis executed what appeared to be a superb 40/20 kick, giving the Vodafone Warriors the scrum feed. The touch judge ruled accordingly and referee Jason Robinson agreed until he was over-ruled by the video referee.

From those setbacks, the Rabbitohs were able to get back into the contest although they, too, were twice denied by video referee decisions when Merritt and Jeremy Smith crossed for would-be tries.

In between those two incidents, they still took the lead, though. First the prolific Merritt intercepted and coasted 85 metres for South Sydney's leveller, converted by Williams for a 10-8 lead after 62 minutes.

Five minutes later a freakish last play and a Peachey kick yielded a try to Kiwi second rower David Fa'alogo, again carefully scrutinised by the video referee before being awarded.

It had the South Sydney connection fizzing as the Rabbitohs took a telling 16-8 lead.

But there was no denying the Vodafone Warriors. While Pearce and the television commentary team had them dead and buried for most of the match - "out on their feet", Pearce kept saying - they remained both confident and resolute in the face of adversity.

They'd also been forced to make do without experienced winger Manu Vatuvei, off the field with a cork which forced Cleary to improvise by using Simon Mannering there on defence and Corey Lawrie, in just his second NRL game, when they had the ball.

For all that there was calm in the team's demeanour before erupting with the three-minute onslaught at the end.

That calm exploded into an exhibition or brilliant skill as the two lethal strikes were constructed. No wonder there was so much excitement over the win including a show of real emotion from Cleary.

There were some extraordinary individual contributions.

The Vodafone Warriors were forced to make 332 tackles according to NRL Stats, a whopping 72 more than South Sydney had to make. Top of the pile was second rower Swann with 43 tackles and not one miss. Mikcheal Luck, with 44 tackles in each of his previous two matches, was right up there again with 36.

Price was again a standout. Apart from his try-producing off load for McKinnon, he carried the ball a remarkable 28 times, gaining 226 metres (following his 272 metres against the Cowboys). He was also credited with 32 tackles and five tackle breaks.

A critical aspect of the contest was the way the Vodafone Warriors worked their interchange bench cleverly while Souths had used 10 of their 12 interchanges with more than 20 minutes still to play.

The result extends the Vodafone Warriors' run of success against the Rabbitohs. They've now won 14 of the 17 clashes between the two sides, the last 12 on end.

They've also built a record of four wins from six starts this year, and 10 points in all counting their bye last weekend. It's an identical start to the one the Vodafone Warriors had in 2002 when they made the grand final. The only time ther has been a better beginning was in 2003 when the club had five wins and two losses in the first seven rounds.

Next Saturday night the Vodafone Warriors are back home playing Cronulla at Mt Smart Stadium. The match kicks off at 7.30.

Match details - at Telstra Stadium, Sydney:

Vodafone Warriors 18 (Grant Rovelli, Wade McKinnon, Todd Byrne tries; Tony Martin 2 conversions, penalty).
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 (Nigel Vagana, Nathan Merritt, David Fa'alogo tries; Joe Williams 2 conversions).
Halftime: 8-4 Vodafone Warriors.
Referee: Jason Robinson.
Report source: www.warriors.co.nz


Warriors Match Notes v Rabbitohs
Sat April 28, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Halfback Grant Rovelli and loose forward Micheal Luck haven't missed an NRL match since joining the Vodafone Warriors.

They both debuted for the club against the Melbourne Storm in the opening round of the competition last year and will make their 30th consecutive appearances in tomorrow's seventh-round clash against South Sydney at Telstra Stadium.

They're part of a Vodafone Warriors line-up that's close to the same as the one that beat North Queensland 34-14 at Mt Smart Stadium on April 15.

The only change sees hooker George Gatis returning to the bench to replace the injured Lance Hohaia. Gatis missed the match against his old club two weeks ago as he recovered from concussion.

After having their bye last weekend, the Vodafone Warriors remained fourth on the ladder but tomorrow, for the fourth match running, they face an opponent ranked above them in the competition.

With their 10-4 win over the Cowboys on Monday night, the Rabbitohs moved up to third on the points table.

The Vodafone Warriors had their final training run in Auckland this morning ahead of their afternoon flight to Sydney. They're set to take the field as named.

Tomorrow they'll be seeking their first away win of the season after earlier losses to Melbourne and Manly. In contrast, the Vodafone Warriors have won each of their three home games, an achievement matched by only Manly and Melbourne so far this season.

This week standoff Michael Witt extended his stay with the club to the end of the 2009 season. Originally signed for just the 2007 season, Witt's future at the club has been secured after just five appearances for the club.

Assistant coach John Ackland and strength and conditioning coach Craig Walker have also been given contract extensions to the end of the 2009 season.

TEAMS
* There are no changes to either team at this stage.
* The Vodafone Warriors made just one switch when their side was named on Tuesday. George Gatis replaces the injured Lance Hohaia on the bench.
* The Vodafone Warriors came through their final training run unscathed at Mt Smart Stadium this morning before flying to Sydney.
* South Sydney co-captain Roy Asotasi and back rower David Fa'alogo are facing their third match in nine days. They played for the Kiwis in the Anzac Test last Friday (April 20) and backed up for South Sydney against North Queensland on Monday night.

CASUALTY WARD
* Wairangi Koopu (shoulder) indefinite
* Lance Hohaia (leg) Round 9
* Patrick Ah Van (leg) Round 8
* Michael Crockett (elbow) Round 11

STATISTICS
* The Vodafone Warriors have beaten South Sydney 13 times ? including the last 11 on end ? in 16 clashes between the two clubs, the best record they have against any NRL side.
* The last time the two teams clashed at Telstra Stadium the Vodafone Warriors won 66-0, the club's biggest win in its history (and South Sydney's worst defeat since the club was formed in 1908).
* Todd Byrne is seven games away from reaching the milestone of 100 first-grade appearances.
* Nathan Fien makes his 49th NRL appearance for the Vodafone Warriors tomorrow (he previously played 91 times for the Cowboys).
* Fullback Wade McKinnon has underlined his value as an outstanding metre gainer in each of his first five appearances for the Vodafone Warriors. He has gained a total of 766 metres in just five matches, an average of 153 metres a game.
* McKinnon will be lining up against his first NRL club. He played 26 matches for South Sydney in 2002-03.
* Grant Rovelli and Micheal Luck will be making their 30th consecutive appearances for the Vodafone Warriors tomorrow. They haven't missed a match since joining the club last year.
* Luck made 44 tackles in each of his last two matches against Manly and North Queensland.
* Back rower Corey Lawrie became the Vodafone Warriors 135th player to appear at first-grade level when he made his debut against the Cowboys on April 15.

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS V SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
* Overall: Played 16, Won 13, Lost 3
* At Telstra Stadium: Played 1, Won 1, Lost 0
* Biggest win: 66-0, Telstra Stadium, 2006
* Most recent win: 66-0, Telstra Stadium, 2006

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Telstra Stadium, Sydney
2.00pm, Sunday, April 29, 2007
Referee: Jason Robinson

Warriors
1 Wade McKinnon
2 Todd Byrne
3 Tony Martin
4 Simon Mannering
5 Manu Vatuvei
6 Michael Witt
7 Grant Rovelli
8 Sam Rapira
9 Nathan Fien
10 Steve Price (c)
11 Ruben Wiki (vc)
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck
14 George Gatis
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Corey Lawrie
Coach: Ivan Cleary


South Sydney
1 David Peachey
2 Nathan Merritt
3 Nigel Vagana
4 Shannon Hegarty
5 Reece Simmonds
6 Jeremy Smith
7 Joe Williams
8 Peter Cusack (c)
9 Daniel Irvine
10 Roy Asotasi (c)
11 Luke Stuart
12 David Fa'alogo
13 Dean Widders
14 Shane Rigon
15 John Sutton
16 Manase Manuokafoa
17 Jaiman Lowe
Coach: Jason Taylor

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue April 24, 2007
• Rabbitohs unchanged for Warriors clash
  
Tue April 24, 2007
• Gatis back for Warriors
  

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