3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – 7
Steady again in the centres, breaking six tackles and finishing with a game-high 201m. Did play his part on bombing a couple of try scoring opportunities, although he scored late to put the icing on the cake in another impressive win.
4. Adam Pompey – 5
Shifted to an unfamiliar right edge and held his own without really standing out. Opportunities were limited with the ball, and he was solid defensively, although a costly spill ultimately led to an Eels try. It will be interesting to see if he retains the spot in a fortnight, with Ali Leiataua expected to be available for selection.
5. Alofiana Khan-Pereira – 8
Continued his electric start to life at the Warriors with a third consecutive brace, taking his tally to six tries in four games. While the club has traditionally leaned on power wingers, Khan-Pereira offers a clear point of difference with his blistering speed and X-factor, which was on full display on multiple occasions.
6. Chanel Harris-Tavita – 7
A little slow out of the gates but grew into the match as it went on. Finished with two line-break assists and two try assists, as well as an impressive 28 tackles in a well-rounded contribution.
7. Tanah Boyd – 7
An excellent performance that will strengthen his claim to the No. 7 jersey moving forward. He steered the team around with real precision, with his in-play kicking on point throughout, and added his 11th try assist of the season.
8. James Fisher-Harris – 7
The captain continues to show how valuable he is to the Warriors with another outstanding display, finishing with 139m from 15 carries and 32 tackles. He also delivered a stunning pass in the lead-up to Khan-Pereira’s opening try.
9. Wayde Egan – 3
A very uncharacteristic performance, cut short after 30 minutes when he left the field with a head knock and did not return. He looked off his rhythm from the outset and appeared unsettled throughout. The bye next week could hardly come at a better time.
10. Jackson Ford – 8
Outstanding yet again and even earned himself a well-deserved break at the end, albeit just for eight minutes. He topped the tackle count with 50, ran for 178m with the ball, and capped off the performance with a well-earned try. He will undoubtedly remain near the top of the Dally M standings and is firming as a genuine New South Wales bolter.
11. Leka Halasima – 4
Another error-ridden performance, featuring three mistakes and a poor defensive read that led to the Eels’ opening try. On the positive side, he did cross for his first try since round three. Andrew Webster said last year it was about quality over quantity for the 20-year-old, so a return to the bench to provide impact may now be worth considering after a heavy recent workload.
12. Kurt Capewell – 7
Experience and calm under pressure, producing several key moments that don’t show up in the stats sheet but proved crucial to the result. It’s clear he’s a winner who knows how to manage big moments.
13. Erin Clark – 9
After a slow start to the season by his standards, the lock has found a new gear and is playing better than ever. His work with the ball was crucial in the build-up to a number of Warriors tries, while his distribution is world class, highlighted by a superb pass for Ford’s try. The Warriors are a far superior side when he is on the field.
Interchange:
14. Sam Healey – 7
His speed from the ruck provided a real point of difference for the Warriors, and he showed he is ready to step up into a starting role if required. Finished with 25 tackles and a line break, although he did concede two ruck infringements.
16. Demitric Vaimauga – 6
Continued his meteoric rise with another promising display, producing several powerful carries that left defenders on their backs. The highlights were two barnstorming runs off the back fence that underlined his growing impact.
17. Jacob Laban – 4
Came on for the final 23 minutes and had a relatively quiet impact, with just two carries and 15 tackles in a low-key stint.
18. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava – 5
Made his first appearance of the season after being left as an unused substitute on four occasions, and put in a solid shift. Finished with 96m and 20 tackles, though he did concede two penalties.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.
