Warriors cough up halftime lead, lose opener

BY DUNCAN JOHNSTONE

The Warriors couldn’t score in the second half as they were overhauled by the Gold Coast Titans in their NRL opener in Australia on Sunday.

Ivan Cleary’s side controlled the match for long periods but the Titans snatched the lead late 10 minutes from the end and hung on for a 24-18 win.

There was plenty of promise from the Warriors but the hot and humid conditions at Skilled Park in Robina clearly contributed to their demise.

Rain before the match meant a slippery field and associated handling errors.

The Warriors were pretty tidy with their first half completions helping Manu Vatuvei to get two of their three tries as they led 18-6 just before the break.

But they coughed up an ugly try right before halftime and their errors mounted in the second half.

The Titans’ star fullback Preston Campbell eventually stole the match for the home side with his crucial try.

This was a brave performance from the Warriors although they will be hugely frustrated that nothing came from it.

Without Steve Price and Simon Mannering their pack manned up with Aaron Heremaia and Russel Packer prominent.

The new halves James Maloney and Brett Seymour were steady and influential. They overshadowed the Titan’s big buy, Greg Bird, and there was clearly a better look to the Warriors’ kicking game.

Three tries came off their bootwork and there was also enough length to relive pressure when necessary.

Vatuvei was full of running and trademark power and Kevin Locke was busy too.

The Warriors made a promising start when Vatuvei latched on to clever cross kick from Maloney to score.

Vatuvei quickly sparked an 80m move just minutes later that saw Maloney spill the ball on the line.

There was no mistake at the end of the first quarter when Locke rose high to bring in a Seymour kick on the other wing for the second try. Syemour landed the extras to stun the home side at 12-nil.

But the Titans’ reply was instant with Nathan Friend selling one dummy and then feeding Joseph Tomane for the touchdown.

The Warriors then produced a good period where they put together three sets in a row. The pressure eventually told with Vatuvei scooping up a loose pass and brushing off two defenders to stroll to the line from 20m.

But the Warriors gave up a soft try right on the break when their defence was in disarray and Anthony Laffranchi cruised over. Scott Prince’s goal got the Titans back to within six points at halftime.

Both sides soaked up plenty of pressure over a frantic third quarter.

The Titans eventually made it pay when Tomane slipped a tight pass to David Mead who completed a superb finish in the corner.

Prince’s conversion locked it up at 18-all with 16 minutes left and the Warriors were facing a big test of their fitness in the sapping conditions.

A bad passing error from Joel Moon gave the Titans the field position they needed and Preston Campbell swooped on to a Prince grubber for the crucial try between the posts and the Titans had the lead for the first time after 70 minutes.

Vatuvei almost had a third try only to have the ball ripped loose by Campbell as the Warriors went hunting for the equaliser.

But it never came.

Titans 24: Joseph Tomane, Anthony Laffranchi, David Mead, Preston Campbell tries; Scott Prince 4 goals.

Warriors 18: Manu Vatuvei 2, Kevin Locke tries; Brett Seymour 3 goals.

HT: 12-18

- © Fairfax NZ News