Round 19
Wests Tigers 16 l. New Zealand Warriors 28

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

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

No charge for McKinnon despite send-off
Mon July 23, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vodafone Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon hasn't been charged by the National Rugby League's match review committee after being ordered off in yesterday's clash against Wests Tigers.

Referee Paul Simpkins sent McKinnon off in the final minute of the match for allegedly using his knee in a tackle on Tigers forward Taniela Tuiaki.

The match review committee today found no case to answer.

McKinnon (26) said he was now totally focused on the Vodafone Warriors' 20th-round encounter with Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium on Saturday night.

"Naturally I was really disappointed I had to leave the field yesterday," he said.

"But I'm pleased the matter has been resolved. Now I just want to get on with preparing for our match against the Knights this weekend."

Centre Jerome Ropati, placed on report during the side's 28-16 win, has been charged with a grade one dangerous throw offence for a tackle on Tuiaki in the 71st minute of the match.

Ropati will escape suspension if he enters an early guilty plea.

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz


McKinnon send off dampers impressive Warriors victory
Sun July 22, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

The Vodafone Warriors moved up to sixth on the NRL ladder today (Sunday) with their fifth win in their last six matches.
But there was plenty of controversy in their first clash in five years against Wests Tigers on Australian soil.

In the final minute of the match fullback Wade McKinnon was sent off by referee Paul Simpkins. Simpkins alleged McKinnon had used his knee in a tackle but replays indicated otherwise. It was a sour end to a contest in which Simpkins blew nine penalties in succession against the Vodafone Warriors. They received the first two penalties of the match but it was all one way after that, including an 8-0 count in the Tigers' favour in the second half.

Despite the lopsided penalty statistic and the possession advantage the home side enjoyed from it, the Vodafone Warriors did more than enough to seal their nineht win of the season, lifting them to 20 points, level in fifth spot with Brisbane, the Bulldogs and the Tigers but behind only the Broncos on points for and against. They will climb to fifth if the Eels beat Brisbane by 14 points or more tomorrow night.

The victory was built on a powerful first half performance, halfback Grant Rovelli scoring a double to help his side to an impressive 22-4 halftime lead.

The home side opened the scoring with a Dean Collis try but Rovelli's double strike then rattled the Tigers.

First George Gatis put Rovelli across from close range and from the next set Gatis made a big break from dummy half to send Rovelli away again.

In the 31st minute, some razzle-dazzle ball movement gave centre Jerome Ropati the chance to squeeze in at the corner.

Having converted the first two tries from in front of the posts, Michael Witt now nailed a fantastic conversion from the sideline extending his run of goals to 28 on end.

Leading 18-4 with halftime approaching, the Vodafone Warriors went in again. Winger Michael Crockett's last tackle kick was brilliantly controlled by Wairangi Koopu for his side's fourth try. Witt's streak was broken, though, when he just failed with another wide-angled conversion.

The Vodafone Warriors conceded the first try of the second half - loose forward Chris Heighington benefiting from a bomb - but by the 54th minute they effectively had the result sewn up. Running a superb angle off a McKinnon pass, toiling Micheal Luck scored his breakthrough try of the season.

Until today he was the only one of the club's regular first graders without a four pointer but, with this effort, he earned exemption from the traditional end of season nude run for players without a try during the year. Witt was back on target from a handy position to put his side 28-8 ahead.

The Tigers produced late tries to Chris Lawrence and Taniela Tuiaki, again unconverted on a day when the home side's goal kicking was appalling.

Those tries did nothing to affect the ultimate outcome although they did damage the Vodafone Warriors' chances of building an even more impressive points for and against reading which might prove critical when play-off spots are being determined.

Individually, captain Steve Price was in another league again, once more breaking the 200-metres gained barrier with 206 from 18 runs. And Luck made a game-high 38 tackles, typically without a miss as well.

The result means the Vodafone Warriors have now won four of their nine matches in Australia so far this season. They take on Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium next Saturday night.

Match details:

At Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Campbelltown:

Wests Tigers 16 (Dean Collis, Chris Heightington, Chris Lawrence, Taniela Tuiaki tries)
Vodafone Warriors 28 (Grant Rovelli 2, Jerome Ropati, Wairangi Koopu, Micheal Luck tries; Michael Witt 4 conversions)
Halftime: 22-4 Vodafone Warriors
Referee: Paul Simpkins

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

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