New boy’s double against former club as Warriors win
Dave Worsley |
An early try double from flying winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira against his former team has set the Warriors up for a 28-20 win over Gold Coast that kept them firmly in the top three on the NRL ladder.
Scoring four tries in the first half while keeping their opponents scoreless, the Warriors (5-2) had to endure some shaky moments as the Titans rallied strongly with four tries of their own in the second half of Saturday’s clash in Auckland.
Khan-Pereira opened the scoring after just five minutes and also got the second try with a spectacular dive in the corner in the 22nd minute following a flicked pass from Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Then Harris-Tavita somehow wrestled the ball down in a collision of bodies with replays showing the ball touching the line for a try.
Not to be outdone, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak produced his own trademark dive for a try in the corner before Tanah Boyd added a late penalty to make it 22-0 to the hosts at the break.
However, the second half was almost all the Titans.
Jojo Fifita finally got the visitors on the scoreboard after 51 minutes with a try in the right corner.
The Warriors responded quickly from a Titans’ error as Leka Halasima charged forward and sent the ball to Erin Clark, who made space for a wrap around with James Fisher-Harris, before going in next to the posts.
The Warriors were leading 28-4 but suddenly their defence became shambolic as the Titans came back through quick reactions and even quicker feet from Sialetili Faeamani who scored in the 68th minute.
They then cut the Warriors to pieces with more quick attack through Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for Arama Hau to score and bring the score back to 28-14 after 72 minutes.
The visitors crossed again through Kurtis Morrin in the 78th minute to further close the gap before time ran out for them.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster had praise for Khan-Pereira who arrived at the club from the Titans in the off season.
“Loffie looked pretty confident for a new kid on the block,” Webster said. “He’s fitted in, he’s bought into what we’re doing.
“He’ll be really proud of some moments tonight.”
There was also plenty of praise for workhorse Jackson Ford who led the tackle count for the Warriors with 48 to go with 20 hit-ups and 226 metres gained.
“It helps interchange because he just stays out there,” said skipper Mitch Barnett, who returned to the side from injury.
“He’s a guy that probably should bring you off at stages, but he just keeps going and just keeps leaving people on the ground. He’s in every kick chase. He doesn’t miss his assignments.”
AAP