Round 21
Sydney Roosters 31 drew New Zealand Warriors 31

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

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

Warriors and Roosters produce extraordinary draw
Mon August 6, 2007
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Not even golden point extra time could separate the Vodafone Warriors and the Sydney Roosters after one of the most amazing sporting contests at Aussie Stadium yesterday.

In a match when the Vodafone Warriors recovered from a 0-16 deficit after only 22 minutes, the two teams finished level at 31-31 after a bewildering end to the final 80 minutes.

And the score remained the same after the 10-minute period of golden point extra time, both sides failing with field goal attempts that left everyone watching what could possibly happen next.

The Vodafone Warriors were certainly left wondering when, in the 68th minute, centre Simon Mannering was sent to the sin bin, allegedly for a professional foul.

At the time they were leading 30-18 after producing some spell-binding attacking play with five quality tries.

But playing a man short, the Vodafone Warriors were quickly in strife as first Craig Wing and then triple try-scoring centre Joel Monaghan struck in a six-minute assault.

Both tries were converted to leave the sides locked at 30-30 with just three minutes to play - only for Braith Anasta to pounce with a 78th minute field goal which seemed likely to give the Roosters victory in an already remarkable match.

But these Vodafone Warriors don't accept whatever the odds are against them.

They reacted by forcing a turnover and organised a field goal opening for standoff Michael Witt, one he took gloriously in the final seconds to tie the game up and take it into two five-minute periods of golden point extra time.

Both sides had field goal chances in the sapping period, inspirational fullback Wade McKinnon just wide in the 88th minute.

So the NRL witnessed just its fourth draw since golden point extra time was introduced in 2003. That gave both sides one point, enabling the Vodafone Warriors to move to 23 points and outright fifth place (North Queensland moved into fourth spot with its 28-22 victory against Canberra on Saturday night).

To say the match had everything was an understatement.

The Roosters started it all when, coming off three straight wins, they lit up with three tries in the opening 22 minutes.

Twice they struck down the Vodafone Warriors' left edge with centre Joel Monaghan picking up a double. And in the 22nd minute Ashley Harrison scored another soft try.
But Epalahame Lauaki's injection from the interchange bench reaped immediate dividends.

In the 27th minute he off loaded superbly to the outstanding McKinnon, the team's top tryscorer scorching onto the ball and beating Roosters fullback Sam Perrett on a sizzling surge for his ninth try of the year.

From the restart, the Vodafone Warriors were in again.

Lauaki was also involved, swinging a wide pass which enabled centre Jerome Ropati to create space for winger Michael Crockett down the right-hand touchline. Crockett burnt off his marker John Williams, drew the cover and gave Ropati a run in for a glorious try. It was his eighth in only nine appearances this year and the 25th of his career, bringing up 100 first-grade points).

With Michael Witt converting both the Vodafone Warriors were back in it at 12-16.

And only minutes later the impressive Lauaki put his mark on the game again with another destructive surge, bending the Roosters' defence close to the line and extending his arm out expertly for a try he richly deserved. Witt's conversion gave the Vodafone Warriors a two-point lead at the break.

A 46th minute Craig Fitzgibbon penalty levelled the score at 18-18 but the result looked to be heading just one way with two vital tries by the Vodafone Warriors in a six-minute burst.

First the Roosters turned over a last tackle kick near their line, giving the Vodafone Warriors an open invitation with a repeat set.

Moments later Lauaki, who was having the game of his career, steamed onto a short ball from halfback Grant Rovelli for his second try in the 54th minute, Witt converting for a 24-18 lead.

And in the 60th minute the Vodafone Warriors went down a short side on the left, Rovelli pushing through a lovely grubber which Manu Vatuvei expertly sped onto and grounded just inside the dead ball line. After countless replays, video ref Sean Hampstead gave the try on a benefit of the doubt call, Vatuvei registering his eighth try of the season. With an utterly wonderful conversion from Witt, the visitors were 30-18 with less than 20 minutes to play.

They seemed likely to go in again at any time but couldn't make the most of the openings on offer - then enter referee Hayne with the call that annoyed Mannering and his team-mates and a whole nation.

It wasn't the only refereeing call that caused debate.

Captain Steve Price was adjudged to have lost control of the ball at an absolutely critical stage. With the Vodafone Warriors on attack in the first period of extra time, Hayne ordered a scrum and gave the Roosters the feed for what he deemed to be a knock-on. But replays showed the ball had been punched free, which ought to have resulted in a penalty for the Vodafone Warriors from which Witt might have nailed a match-winner.

Despite the calls the match was turned into a classic through the Vodafone Warriors' initial comeback, then the Roosters' recovery and the pulsating end to the contest.

Monaghan made a critical contribution for the Roosters, as did Lauaki for the Vodafone Warriors with his destructive efforts in the earlier stages. With two tries, two line breaks, a try assist, a hand in another try, 10 tackles breaks for the second match running and 177 metres gained from 17 runs, he had a fabulous game.

A special hero was McKinnon, who fought on after injuring his ankle early in the second half. His try was glorious, he defused bombs and other kicks superbly, gained 195 metres and came close to winning the match with his field goal attempt.

Vice-captain Ruben Wiki arguably provided the most crucial moment of the game when he came from the clouds to make a desperate tackle on a try-bound Amos Roberts in golden point extra time.

Price was just Price. While the stats covered extra time, he was credited with a new career-best 323 metres gained (he made 306 metres against Cronulla, a record for a forward in an 80-minute match). Vatuvei maintained his wonderful form over the last two months, scoring his eighth try of the year and gaining 167 metres from 15 runs. He was also potent bringing kicks back, once memorably finding his way back into the field of play after collecting a kick inside his in-goal area (a feat that led to McKinnon's try in the same set).

Witt's kicking was again vital, kicking five from five and giving him 40 from 42 attempts. That haul plus his field goal took his season's tally to 105 points.

Plenty of other players supported as well. On defence, Micheal Luck was the king as usual with 40 tackles while Ropati was called on to make 30 tackles in the centres.

The end result of a totally unforgettable occasion was that the Vodafone Warriors missed out on two competition points they seemed so certain to secure before Hayne's decision to bin Mannering.

But they at least had the comfort of taking a point from the game which might well prove invaluable when playoff spots are determined.

With four matches to go - Gold Coast at home next Saturday night - they have the knowledge of knowing two wins will definitely secure a spot in the finals.

Match details:

At Aussie Stadium, Sydney:
Vodafone Warriors 31 (Epalahame Lauaki 2, Wade McKinnon, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei tries; Michael Witt 5 conversions, field goal).
Sydney Roosters 31 (Joel Monaghan 3, Ashley Harrison, Craig Wing tries; Craig Fitzgibbon 3 conversions, penalty; Amos Roberts conversion; Braith Anasta field goal).
Halftime: 18-16 Vodafone Warriors.
Referee: Shayne Hayne.
Crowd: 15,124.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz


Fittler retains winning side
Tue July 31, 2007
Sydney Roosters coach Brad Fittler has named an unchanged side for Sunday's important clash against the Warriors at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Iosia Soliola has been added as 18th man after missing last week's victory against Melbourne and in the previous week was one of the standouts in their come from behind win over Newcastle at Energy Australia Stadium.

Under the coaching of Fittler the Roosters have won their last three matches and are emerging as one of the form sides in the Premierships.

The Warriors have been in outstanding form of late and are shaping up as one of the dark horses for the Premiership, but have to prove they can win on the road.

Fittler guided the Roosters to an impressive 26-16 victory against Melbourne last week with the scoreline after 75 minutes being 26-4 before two late tries brought the scoreline closer than what it really was.

The Roosters after the Warriors match have one of the easier runs into the Finals and victory on Sunday, which is more than possible should put the Roosters in good shape to make an unlikely tilt at the Finals and possibly the Premiership.

Sydney Roosters v New Zealand Warriors
Sydney Football Stadium
Round 21
Sunday 5th August
2:00pm

Roosters Team:

1 Sam Perrett
2 Amos Roberts
3 Mitchell Aubusson
4 Joel Monaghan
5 John Williams
6 Braith Anasta
7 Craig Wing
8 David Shillington
9 Heath L'Estrange
10 Lopini Paea
11 Anthony Tupou
12 Craig Fitzgibbon (c)
13 Ashley Harrison

Subs:
14 Danny Nutley
15 Nate Myles
16 Setimata Sa
17 Shane Shackleton
18 Iosia Soliola
(one to be omitted)

Tue July 31, 2007
• Warriors field same side again for away game against Roosters
  

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