Round 5
New Zealand Warriors 36 d. Bulldogs 16

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Brilliant second half sees Warriors destroy Bulldogs
Sun April 13, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

A brilliant 26-point second half effort carried the Vodafone Warriors to a stunning 36-16 win over the Bulldogs in their fifth-round NRL clash at Mt Smart Stadium today (Sunday).

After being 10-12 down at halftime, the home side put together a four-try blitz and conceded just one late try to charge to a 20-point win, the club's first victory over the Bulldogs since 2003.

It was also the third home victory in three outings this year and continues the Vodafone Warriors' impressive form at Mt Smart Stadium which now shows eight wins in the last nine matches.

Wingers Patrick Ah Van and Manu Vatuvei provided three of the six tries while Ah Van also put Lance Hohaia in for his 30th career try in what was his 99th NRL appearance.

Vatuvei scored two magnificent tries, one in each half, to take his tally for the season to six. It's fair to say, there was no more popular try scorer on the day as a crowd of 16,013 - apart maybe from captain Ruben Wiki.

He charged at the line, took a hit from Sonny Bill Williams, but still regained his composure to get the ball over for his first try of the year. Given some of the criticism he has been fielding lately, it gave the try added meaning among his team-mates. And the fans at the ground were clearly in raptures about it, too.

With that try in the 62nd minute and Vatuvei's five minutes earlier when he blasted through the Bulldogs' defence for the second time, the Vodafone Warriors surged to a 22-12 advantage and made it a 12-point lead soon after with a Michael Witt penalty.

The Bulldogs came back, though, with a Heka Nanai try but Hazem El Masri's failed conversion was critical, leaving the Vodafone Warriors with an eight-point cushion.

If there was any anxiety that the Bulldogs might have some tricks left in the last 10 minutes they disappeared when Ah Van, slowed down by a back injury, broke clear and had the presence to find Hohaia backing up on the inside for a fabulous long-range strike in the 75th minute.

And just to finish it all off a lovely Nathan Fien kick in behind the Bulldogs' backline produced a magic finishing touch. Timing his run perfectly, young second rower Sonny Fai collected the ball low down and ran away from none other than Sonny Bill Williams to score behind the posts in the final minutes.

Earlier the Vodafone Warriors opened up a 10-0 lead after Ah Van and Vatuvei both both scored inside the first 10 minutes.

First Ah Van latched onto a Grant Rovelli last tackle bomb to score wide out in just the third minute. That was from the Vodafone Warriors' first set in possession, Michael Witt missing the conversion as the wind took the ball just outside the left-hand upright.

The score became 10-0 by the ninth minute when the home side prospered after Sonny Bill Williams' second error in possession.

Moments later that had been transformed into a stunning Vatuvei try when he surged through the Bulldogs' line and sped 35 metres for his fifth try of the season. This time Witt adjusted to slot the conversion.

But in the second quarter the SBW factor came into play as he laid on a try for fullback Luke Patten in the 19th minute, Hazem El Masri converting.

The Vodafone Warriors were denied a would-be third try when Brent Tate writhed his way across the line but was superbly held up by Kiwi halfback Ben Roberts.

And it was Roberts who would cause double pain at the other end of the field when he was allowed to score through some soft defence in the 34th minute. El Masri's conversion gave the Bulldogs a 12-10 lead at the break.

But the superb second half effort turned that around completely.

One of the features of the display was again some high quality dummy half running with interchange hooker Ian Henderson particularly effective. He also provided two try assists.

Centres Brent Tate and Ryan Shortland plus Vatuvei were also busy in the dummy half stakes while Hohaia (178), Vatuvei (115), Tate (109), Wiki (105) and Sam Rapira (101) all gained more than 100 metres in the provisional numbers supplied by NRL Stats. Evarn Tuimavave and Fai were close to three figures as well.

The busiest defender on the field was Micheal Luck once again with 37 tackles.

At Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland:
Vodafone Warriors 36 (Manu Vatuvei 2, Patrick Ah Van, Ruben Wiki, Lance Hohaia, Sonny Fai tries; Michael Witt 6 goals).
Bulldogs 16 (Luke Patten, Ben Roberts, Heka Nanai tries; Hazem El Masri 2 goals).
Halftime: 12-10 Bulldogs.
Referee: Ben Cummins.
Crowd: 16,013.

Report source: www.warriors.co.nz


Maitua out of Warriors clash, Moore to be named Bulldogs Coach
Wed April 9, 2008
Controversial Bulldogs forward Reni Maitua has been ruled out of Sunday's clash against the Warriors with a rib injury.

Maitua was named on the bench after spending the last two weeks out of the NRL squad due to discipline reasons and the Bulldogs heavy loss on Friday night against Roosters led to Maitua being recalled.

Danny Williams, who was named on the bench for the NRL squad and also in the starting side for the Bulldogs NSW VB Cup side for their clash against Cronulla. Williams will remain with the NRL squad and not take part in the NSW Cup game.

Maitua has been the centre of many rumours in recent times following a list of off-field troubles and has been linked to a switch to both the Rabbitohs or Roosters.

Meanwhile, Kevin Moore will be named later this week as the successor to Steve Folkes as Bulldogs Coach for the next three years.

Moore is currently the Assistant Coach to Folkes and has previously coached the Jersey Flegg and Reserve Grade sides to titles. Moore was appointed Assistant Coach to the NSW State of Origin side last year and has been retained in the role this year.

The appointment of Moore is going to make or break the new Bulldogs Board and if they fail to sign any players with Moore listed as Coach - another challenge could be on the cards. The Board have a mandate to make serious changes and must deliver on their promises or face losing their spots.

It's expected that former Bulldogs lock Jim Dymock will be named Assistant Coach. Dymock and Moore played alongside each other in the halves for several weeks in 1994 when regular halves Terry Lamb and Craig Polla-Mounter were both out for extended periods through injury. The Bulldogs with them two in the halves enjoyed a fine winning streak with Moore keeping Polla-Mounter in reserve grade for a few weeks.

Folkes announced on Monday that he would stand down as Bulldogs Coach after 11 years in the position. Folkes has stated that he'll look for other opportunities with the English Super League looking his most likely destination. Folkes played 24 matches with Hull FC in 1989-90 - the only Club he has been involved with outside of the Bulldogs and the Junior League club he played for.

There were several candidates linked to the Bulldogs position including Michael Potter, Stephen Kearney and Daniel Anderson, however, Moore was always going to get the position once the Bulldogs announced they would not go after the services of Wayne Bennett.

Tue April 8, 2008
• Tsoulos replaces injured Cleal, Maitua named on bench
  
Tue April 8, 2008
• Warriors name same 17 for Bulldogs clash
  

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