Round 14
New Zealand Warriors 13 d. Newcastle Knights 0

2009 NRL Telstra Premiership Index [Table] [Draw] [Player Stats] [Club Headlines]

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

Clean sheet again for Warriors
Tue June 16, 2009
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Another heroic defensive display gave the Vodafone Warriors their second successive clean sheet at home as they shut out Newcastle 13-0 in their 14th-round NRL encounter at Mount Smart Stadium.

In a near-replica of their clash against Wests Tigers two weeks ago, the Vodafone Warriors refused to submit to the well-performed Knights.

For more than an hour they defended a tight 6-0 advantage before finishing with a Lance Hohaia field goal and an 80-metre runaway try in the dying seconds by exciting young winger Kevin Locke to secure a vital victory.

Locke's third try in just his third NRL match left the Vodafone Warriors with a combined score-line of 27-0 in their last two home games, 160 minutes in which they've given the opposition nothing at all.

With the win they climbed to 13 points and 10th place for now with another two points coming for their bye next week before back-to-back away matches against Gold Coast (June 27) and Brisbane (July 3).

The outcome was critical after the hugely disappointing 10-18 loss to Cronulla last Sunday.

Unlike so many matches during their 2009 campaign so far, the Vodafone Warriors began well against the Knights. After conceding a 0-18 loss to the Sharks inside 27 minutes last week, they reversed the trend with a try after just five minutes. Hohaia, brought in to join Stacey Jones in the halves, showed immense strength to surge over from close range with Locke converting for a 6-0 lead.

For the first 15 minutes of the contest the Vodafone Warriors played flawlessly, completing their first 10 sets in possession.

But despite the edge in possession and territory, they were unable to build on that advantage although winger Manu Vatuvei ought to have added to the first half points tally, only to fail in his bid to ground the ball as he chased down a clever Hohaia kick.

The failure to add more points despite their dominance meant this was a win the Vodafone Warriors had to sweat on.

They finished the match with an outstanding completion rate of 36 from 45 sets in possession (80 per cent), gained close to 1700 metres with the ball in hand and more than1000 metres from kicks. But it wasn't until Hohaia struck with his field goal in the 71st minute that the Vodafone Warriors were able to give themselves the semblance of a buffer, if a shaky one at that.

Inside the last minute it became apparent a 7-0 margin would be enough but when a Newcastle attack broke down, the fleet-footed 20-year-old Locke swooped on the opportunity for the match-sealing try.

Coach Ivan Cleary couldn't say enough about the effort overall and especially the defensive display. Since slumping to 12-34 and 12-38 losses to North Queensland and Canberra, the Vodafone Warriors have lifted their defensive efficiency to a new level.

There wasn't as much defence to do in this game, certainly not anywhere near the number made against Wests Tigers. This time the Vodafone Warriors made 359 tackles compared to Newcastle's 428, just a few short of that 80-minute record the Vodafone Warriors had against the Tigers.

Micheal Luck, the NRL's leading tackler, had another busygame with 51 tackles while his Newcastle opposite Matt Hilder made an astonishing 71 (a record for an 80-minute match) with hooker Isaac De Gois next best with 64 and captain Steve Simpson 44.

As expected in atrocious conditions, the back three for both sides were busy on a night when there was so much kicking. Locke carried the ball 15 times for 237 metres, fullback Wade McKinnon made 192 metres from 23 runs, Vatuvei 136 from 17 and centre Simon Mannering 142 from 16.

Match details:

At Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
Vodafone Warriors 13 (Lance Hohaia, Kevin Locke tries; Kevin Locke 2 conversions; Lance Hohaia field goal)
Newcastle Knights 0
Halftime: 6-0 Vodafone Warriors
Referees: Steve Lyons and Bernard Sutton
Crowd: 14,255

ROUND 14 NRL MATCH & PLAYER STATS
Warriors 13 v Knights 0
Broncos 22 v Bulldogs 44
Roosters 20 v Titans 24
Panthers 6 v Sea Eagles 20
Rabbitohs 22 v Storm 28
Raiders 22 v Sharks 24
Dragons 32 v Cowboys 18
Eels 6 v Wests Tigers 23


Gidley to be rested
Wed June 10, 2009
Source: www.newcastleknights.com.au

Newcastle Knights Captain Kurt Gidley has been withdrawn from Friday night's game against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium.

Gidley will be rested as he is experiencing tight calf muscles.

Knights Coaching Staff have decided against playing Gidley for the third time in 10 days due to the risk of muscle tear.

Gidley will be replaced by Shannon McDonnell.

There are no other injury concerns - all other players named in Tuesday's squad are fit and will travel.

Tue June 9, 2009
• Jones to play 250th game for Warriors
  

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