Warriors ace sinbinned in hectic trial loss to Dolphins
George Clarke |
The Warriors’ hopes of having no-nonsense forward Jackson Ford on deck for their season opener are in the hands of the NRL’s match review committee after he was sinbinned in a 38-34 trial loss to the Dolphins.
Referee Grant Atkins sent Ford to the bin and placed the prop on report midway through the first half of Friday’s meeting at Leichhardt Oval for an ugly hip-drop tackle on Selwyn Cobbo.
New Dolphins recruit Cobbo was cleared of injury and played on but Ford’s technique is expected to draw the attention of the review committee and could potentially lead to suspension.
The Warriors are already without co-captain Mitch Barnett, halfback Luke Metcalf and Te Maire Martin to start the season.
There are also injury clouds over Marata Niukore, Chanel Harris-Tavita and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of their round-one match against the Sydney Roosters.
Ford, who scored the game’s first try, was also the victim of some foul play himself when he was hit with a Francis Molo shoulder charge.
The Dolphins prop was also sent to the sinbin in the 53rd minute and while his side were down to 12 men, the Warriors let rip by scoring three consecutive tries.
The Kiwi side were much improved from last weekend’s loss to a young Manly outfit and got out to an 18-10 halftime lead courtesy of tries from Ford, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Wayde Egan.
Cobbo grabbed the Dolphins’ first of the night and spent time on both the wing and at right centre.
Tries from Brad Schneider, Trai Fuller and Jamayne Isaako allowed the Dolphins to edge in front early into the second half before Molo’s sinbinning opened the floodgates.
Ali Leiataua, Watene-Zelezniak and Eddie Ieremia-Toeava all crossed before Warriors coach Andrew Webster hauled his big guns off.
With the Warriors down on strikepower the Dolphins enjoyed a late resurgence with tries from Tevita Naufahu, John Fineanganofo and Brian Pouniu securing a late Dolphins victory.
AAP