Latest news with #RogerTuivasaSheck
RNZ News
5 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
NRL: Warriors survive Johnston try milestone for heartstopping win over Souths
Chanel Harris-Tavita in possession. South Sydney Rabbitohs v One NZ Warriors. NRL Rugby League, Accor Stadium, NSW, Australia, Sunday 1st June 2025 Photo: / David Neilson Winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck had a try double and NZ Warriors survived yet another nailbiting finish to dispatch South Sydney Rabbitohs 36-30 at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Trailling 12-4 late in the first half, the visitors put their noses in front on the break, with fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad scoring a try on the siren, and then had three tries in quick succession after the restart to open up an 18-point margin. Souths came storming back, inspired by superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell and prolific tryscorer Alex Johnston, who galloped the length of the field for an intercept try in the first half. Down 30-12, Mitchell found his winger with a long pass that put him over in the corner for a second try and then repeated the dose, as Johnson secured a hattrick to bring up 200 career tries in the NRL - only the second player to achieve that milestone. Tuivasa-Sheck seemed to put the Warriors beyond reach with his second try, but Mitchell wasn't done, scoring one himself and converting to bring his team within striking distance in the dying moments. As they had done so many times this season, the Warriors staved off their rivals until the final siren, bringing their record to 9-3 for the season and rising to second on the competition table behind Canterbury Bulldogs. Canberra Raiders can pass them with victory over Sydney Roosters later on Sunday. The Warriors face another trip across the Tasman to take on Cronulla Sharks next Saturday. See how all the action went down, with RNZ's live blog: Rabbitohs: 1. Latrell Mitchell, 2. Alex Johnston, 3. Isaiah Tass, 4. Campbell Graham, 5. Bayleigh Bentley-Hape, 6. Jayden Sullivan, 7. Jamie Humphreys, 8. Jai Arrow, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Keaon Koloamatangi, 11. Euan Aitken, 12. Tallis Duncan, 13. Lachlan Hubner Interchange: 14. Jye Gray, 15. Sean Keppie, 16. Davvy Moale, 17. Tevita Tatola Reserves: 18. Liam Le Blanc, 19. Fletcher Myers, 20. Shaquai Mitchell, 21. Lewis Dodd Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Rocco Berry, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Luke Metcalf, 8. James Fisher-Harris, 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Mitchell Barnett, 11. Kurt Capewell, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Tohu Harris Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Leka Halasima, 16. Demitric Vaimauga, 17. Jackson Ford Reserves: 18. Jacob Laban, 19. Samuel Healey, 20. Tanah Boyd, 21. Tanner Stowers-Smith
RNZ News
25-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: Raiders snap Warriors winning streak with victory at Go Media Stadium
The Warriors' Marata Niukore, in action against the Canberra Raiders in Round 12 of the NRL Telstra Premiership Rugby League Competition, at Go Media Stadium, Auckland, on Sunday night. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ The Warriors entered the contest sitting second on the ladder, but only two points ahead of their rivals. This result will see them slip to fourth, leapfrogged by the Raiders and Melbourne Storm (bye) on points differential. Fogarty scored the winning try in the 63rd minute and converted it for good measure, putting his stamp on a contest that was close throughout. Warriors counterpart Luke Metcalf put his side ahead with an early penalty and they seemed in control, when Roger Tuivasa-Sheck slithered over in the corner, forcing the ball over his head for a try. Hooker Tom Starling had a try for the Raiders, with Fogarty converting and then slotting a penalty on halftime to level 8-8 at the break. Metcalf again kicked a penalty to give the Warriors a slight edge, but it was never likely to be enough, as Fogarty accepted an offload from Ata Mariota to clinch the visitors' victory. Both teams had players sent to the sin bin, with Corey Horsburgh and Tom Starling guilty of high tackles for Canberra, and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad singled out on his own goal-line for taking too long to clear a tackle. The result ended the Warriors' five-game winning streak and they will now hope to start a new one, when they visit South Sydney Rabbitohs next Sunday. Read what happened, with RNZ's blog: NZ Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Adam Pompey 4. Kurt Capewell 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Luke Metcalf 8. Jackson Ford 9. Wayde Egan 10. Bunty Afoa 11. Leka Halasima 12. Marata Niukore 13. Erin Clark Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin 15. Jacob Laban 16. Demitric Vaimauga 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18. Tom Ale 20. Samuel Healey 21. Tanah Boyd 22. Ali Leiataua 23. Taine Tuaupiki Canberra Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Savelio Tamale 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Josh Papali'i 17. Ata Mariota Reserves: 18. Jed Stuart 19. Trey Mooney 20. Danny Levi 21. Pasami Saulo 22. Chevy Stewart
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster happy to benefit from blown call against Dolphins
Kurt Capewell races away for his game-changing try against the Dolphins. Photo: AAP/DAVE HUNT Warriors v Raiders Kickoff 6pm Sunday, 25 May Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors coach Andrew Webster is claiming the referee bungle that helped his team stretch their five-game winning streak with a 16-12 victory over the Dolphins at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium last Saturday. Leading only 4-0 in the first half, the visitors benefited from a howler by lead official Peter Gough and the bunker, when winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck clearly spilled a high kick forward, but the trajectory was ruled backwards. As play continued, lock Erin Clark stormed to halfway, and halfback Luke Metcalf kicked and recovered, before sending centre Kurt Capewell across for the try. Even the most one-eyed Warriors fans had to concede the Dolphins were hard done by and Webster is one of them. "The thing about those things is we've been on a million of those," he reflected. "A couple of years ago in a semi-final, we were on the end of a really bad forward pass at the same stadium. "You've got to take them. The second half was a 6-0 penalty count against us and that's not including six-to-go, so everyone has their day in the sun. "I'll admit we got away with one." Warriors supporters have long suspected their team have been on the wrong end of marginal officiating - a belief often borne out during the NRL's weekly reviews, which have been conveniently canned this season. Tuivasa-Sheck - who could be seen admonishing himself in the background, as his teammates raced upfield - was a little more diplomatic. "I definitely dropped the ball," he said. "Which way it went, the call has been made ... the ball went backwards, as the ref said, and Charnze jumped on it. ''I was gutted I dropped the ball, but as soon as you get over that, you carry on. No whistle, play on." Afterwards, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf would not be drawn on the incident. "You know I'm not allowed to talk about referee decisions," he told media. "Everyone's seen what happened there and it's one we just have to avoid. "Things like that certainly make it challenging, but we probably ran out of time in the end. We had plenty of effort and were certainly coming home, we just didn't have enough time to do it." Unsurprisingly, Gough is nowhere to be seen among officiating assignments for this week's reduced five-game schedule, with seven teams drawing byes and State of Origin I looming next Wednesday. While the Warriors are sitting pretty at 8-2 and second on the competition table, the nature of their wins has kept them grounded and their supporters on tenterhooks this season. Despite their lopsided record, their points differential is just plus-five. During their five-game streak, they have been outscored 60-33 in the second halves of those encounters, as they seemingly find new and excruciating ways to somehow salvage victory from the jaws of defeat. The Warriors needed an extra-time penalty against Brisbane Broncos, a desperate defensive stand against North Queensland Cowboys, a late field goal against St George Illawarra Dragons and a dubious call against the Dolphins. Two months ago, only a late penalty was the difference between them and Wests Tigers. Webster knows they must do better to be true contenders, as the season approaches halfway. "I think, if we were winning by 50, we'd still feel the same way," he said. "We still like a lot to do with our wins. "Who's to say these teams aren't bring their best football against us? It doesn't matter if they're running last or first in the competition. "We're so grounded this season, because we know we've got way more in us." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: Warriors v Dolphins - what we learnt from a controversial win
Warriors captain James Fisher-Harris is sent to the sin bin against the Dolphins. Photo: AAP/DAVE HUNT Analysis : For the fourth time in five games, NZ Warriors were made to survive a torrid comeback from their opponents, but showed their resilience to hold on for their fifth straight win. There was plenty to talk about afterwards, including a dubious try, a couple of injury returns, a debutant and the prospect of losing both captains and front-rowers for next week. Here's what we learned from the Warriors' controversial 16-12 win over the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium. One of the really intriguing features of the team named by coach Andrew Webster on Tuesday was how he would bring former Dally M Medal winner Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back into the fold, after almost two months rehabbing a hamstring strain. Given the other injuries facing Webster, the logical move seemed to bring him into centre, where the loss of Rocco Berry and Ali Leiataua had forced second-rower Kurt Capewell to play out of position. Twenty-four hours out from kickoff, that was the change Webster made, but before the game, he changed his mind again, moving RTS to the wing, dropping Taine Tuaupiki altogether and returning Capewell to the centres, where he was entrusted with marking in-form counterpart Herbie Farnworth. "[Capewell] is awesome, wherever he's played this year," Webster said. "People don't realise he was carrying a lot of injuries and niggles last year, but he's got himself in shape. "His leadership is unbelievable, but he's leading by his actions. I honestly think he's been so good for us, particularly over the past six weeks." Last season, Webster seemed determined to turn double international Tuivasa-Sheck into a centre, where he had played for the All Blacks. This selection suggests those days are well and truly over. Playing in the unfamiliar No.22 jersey, Tuivasa-Sheck was quickly into his stride, running a game-high 22 times for 202 metres. He made only one error, but perhaps his biggest contribution to the outcome was the error he WASN'T credited with. More on that later. Co-captain James Fisher-Harris logged 57 minutes on his return from a pec (chest) , running for 114 metres and making 40 tackles - second only to Wayde Egan (47) and equal with Erin Clark. Unfortunately, his performance will be remembered for the high, no-arms tackle he made with three minutes left on the clock that saw him dismissed to the sin bin, leaving his team to defend a lead that was vanishing before their eyes. "Fish went to the bin and we could have crumbled, but we stayed solid again," Webster reflected. "I thought we looked way better." The Warriors will now wait anxiously for a judicial backlash. Another feature of Webster's selection was the late promotion of rookie Tanner Stowers-Smith to the interchange for his first NRL appearance. With Jackson Ford concussed out of the game, Bunty Afoa succumbing to a knee injury and Capewell's services required elsewhere, the Warriors were running thin on forwards, but uncovered another on their production line of second-rowers. With Leka Halasima (19), Demitric Vaimauga (21) and Jacob Laban (21) already regular fixtures in the game day squad, Stowers-Smith (21) becomes Warrior No.292 and shows the depth the club has in this position. Tanner Stowers-Smith makes his debut for the Warriors. Photo: Zain Mohammed/NRL Photos Grandfather Pat Smith played 10 games for NZ Kiwis from 1947-49 and Stowers-Smtih was lining up against cousin Jamayne Isaako in his first-grade debut. He logged 25 minutes, ran six times for 50 metres and made 21 tackles over two stints on the field. The Warriors led only 4-0 with halftime approaching, when Dolphins half Isaiya Katoa put up a high kick towards Tuivasa-Sheck's wing. Under pressure, RTS spilt the ball forwards, but miraculously, referee Peter Gough waved "play on", ruling the ball went backwards. He may have been the only person in the stadium who saw it that way. Even the usually one-eyed Sky Sport panel could not believe the decision. From the resulting possession, the Warriors rumbled upfield, with lock Erin Clark carrying strongly. Halfback Luke Metcalf kicked ahead, regathered the bounce and found Capewell running in support to score. From what should have been a redhot attacking opportunity, the Dolphins found themselves standing behind their own posts, watching Metcalf's conversion curl between the uprights. In recent years, NRL head of elite football operations Graham Annesley has conducted a weekly review of contentious officiating decisions each Monday, but his review was curiously axed this season. Kurt Capewell scores his try against the Dolphins. Photo: AAP/DAVE HUNT He would often highlight bad calls and you have to believe this would have been one of those. "You know I'm not allowed to talk about referee decisions," Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf said afterwards. "Everyone's seen what happened there and it's one we just have to avoid. "Things like that certainly make it challenging, but we probably ran out of time in the end. We had plenty of effort and were certainly coming home, we just didn't have enough time to do it." Gough and the bunker ruled out three other tries. Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita had one disallowed, when he gathered a loose ball near the posts to score, but Halasima's aerial challenge was deemed to travel forward. Former Warriors half Kodi Nikorima seemed to have had one against his old team, but replays showed he ran behind a teammate, who obstructed the defence. Dolphins fullback Hamiso Taubai-Fidow was across early in the second half, when the ball went loose from a crossfield kick, but the final tap on from forward Mark Nicholls was adjudged forward. This fixture was their fifth "road" game in the last six, although two of them - Newcastle Knights in Christchurch and North Queensland Cowboys at Magic Round - were officially home games that they elected to take away from Mt Smart. Webster insisted they hadn't even spoken about the toll that had taken on the players . "Christchurch is our home game, because of our fans, and we want to take the game around the country," he said. "We've had a big block [of travel], but I haven't heard them complain once. "They just got on with it and I'm super proud there are no excuses. We are the Warriors and we travel - that's part of the gig." Ultimately, the Dolphins dominated many of the key statistics, enjoying five minutes more possession, which amounted to 14 more sets than the Warriors. That was partially a reflection of their 6-2 set restart advantage. The Dolphins also forced four goal-line dropouts - the Warriors none - but Metcalf skilfully put all four short and on the spot, allowing his team to regain possession on three of them. The Warriors continue to lead the competition in set completion - they entered the game with 83 percent success and managed 81 percent in this contest. Their 8-2 record surpasses the 2018 playoff team , who fell to 7-3 at this stage of their campaign, after starting with five straight wins. They now match the 2002 side that won the minor premiership and made the Grand Final, but that outfit reached 11-2, before dropping to their third defeat of that campaign. Incredibly, despite their lopsided winning record, the Warriors' points differential after 10 games is just plus five. After outscoring their opponents 60-42 in the second halves of their opening five games, they have been outscored 60-33 over the final 40 minutes during their five-game winning streak. The home side lost to the Warriors for the first time at Suncorp Stadium, but probably deserved more from this performance, especially considering that blown ref call and Capewell's try. Dolphins captain Tom Gilbert leaves the field injured against the Warriors. Photo: Zain Mohammed/NRL Photos The Dolphins also lost second-rower Tom Gilbert to a pec injury that may keep him sidelined for several weeks and cost him a Queensland State-of-Origin call-up. Their task becomes no easier next week, when they face tabletopping Canterbury Bulldogs. Next week's Warriors v Canberra Raiders encounter will provide the marquee match-up in a round that sees seven teams on a bye, with State of Origin looming. Of course, the Raiders embarrassed the Warriors in their season-opening meeting at Las Vegas and they have been one of the form teams of the competition, with a 7-3 record, rallying to beat Melbourne Storm at Magic Round, but surrendering a 20-point lead against top-of-the-table Canterbury Bulldogs last week. They face Gold Coast Titans on Sunday. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
NZ Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris poised for return against Dolphins
James Fisher-Harris suffered a pec injury against Melbourne Storm. Photo: Warriors v Dolphins Kickoff 5pm Saturday, 17 May Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Co-captain James Fisher-Harris has been named in the NZ Warriors starting line-up to face the Dolphins in Brisbane on Saturday, while superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has a chance to return via the reserves. Front-rower Fisher-Harris is the only change to the team that ran out against St George Illawarra Dragons last weekend , replacing Bunty Afoa, who later left the field with a knee injury. The NZ Kiwis skipper suffered a pec (chest) strain against Melbourne Storm a month ago and coach Andrew Webster confirmed he would be given until kickoff to prove his fitness for a return. Tuivasa-Sheck tweaked his hamstring against Sydney Roosters eight weeks ago and was also named on the extended bench last week, but ultimately missed the gameday cut. "He was close last week, he's a lot closer this week," Webster said. Just where Tuivasa-Sheck would fit becomes the biggest question. For now, second-rower Kurt Capewell has been retained at centre, where the former All Blacks midfielder spent last season, before reverting back to the wing, but Webster wasn't prepared to elaborate on his intentions. Another option could see winger Taine Tuaupiki move to fullback , making way for Tuivasa-Sheck, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad slotting into centre, where he has played for the national team. Capewell could revert to his natural position, with Marata Niukore filling Jackson Ford's middle role. Ford is the other to miss selection this week, after failing a concussion check early in the second half against the Dragons. Meanwhile, Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has stuck with the same unit that beat Parramatta Eels last week, with Ray Stone and Tom Gilbert swapping jerseys in the pack. Former Warriors Kodi Nikorima will line up at five-eighth for the home side. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Taine Tuaupiki, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitchell Barnett, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Sam Healey Reserves: 18 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava, 20 Tanner Stowers-Smith, 21 Tanah Boyd, 22 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 23 Moala Graham-Taufa Dolphins: 1 Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, 2 Jamayne Isaako, 3 Jake Averillo, 4 Herbie Farnworth, 5 Jack Bostock, 6 Kodi Nikorima, 7 Isaiya Katoa, 8 Francis Molo, 9 Kurt Donoghoe, 10 Felise Kaufusi, 11 Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, 12 Tom Gilbert, 13 Ray Stone Interchange: 14 Harrison Graham, 15 Mark Nicholls, 16 Josh Kerr, 17 Connelly Lemuelu Reserves: 18 Sean O'Sullivan, 19 Oryn Keeley, 20 Max Feagai, 21 Kenny Bromwich, 22 Junior Tupou Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
