Bunty Afoa on the charge. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
Playing majority of the game with 12 men, the Warriors were edged 18-16 by the West Tigers in Christchurch this afternoon.
In the first of two pre-season games, the sell-out Christchurch crowd was left disappointed by a sub-par Warriors performance.
Warriors forward Zyon Maiu'u was shown a red card just twenty minutes in for a high shot.
The contact resulted in Declan Casey stretchered off and the Warriors playing a man down.
Wests went in first courtesy of a beautiful pass out of dummy half from Apisai Koroisau which allowed Alex Seyfarth to crash over.
The response was immediate, as the Tigers coughed it up from the restart, Jacob Laban among the Warriors to force the turnover who then ran a quality line off Luke Metcalf to score the Warrior's opening points.
The Warriors celebrate Jacob Laban's try during the NRL preseason match against the Wests Tigers in Christchurch. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
The tit-for-tat continued, just two minutes later Wests waltzed in again through Aidan Sezer following some weak defence from the hosts.
A significant delay followed as Casey required medical assistance following Maiu'u's hit.
it took until the 60th minute for more points as Sione Latoa-Vaihu scored from a re-gathered cross kick.
Coming off the bench, Nathaniel Roache made his presence felt straight away a he powered through the Tigers line from dummy half.
Setu Tu would then collect a pinpoint grubber kick to score and bring the Warriors within two.
A copybook Ben Farr tackle saw the Tigers spill the steeden with 90 seconds remaining to give the Warriors an attacking set inside Wests half.
A pitch invader halted the game and the home side's momentum, allowing Wests to reset their defensive line.
The Warriors would force a repeat set but ultimately the clock ran out to deny them one last shot at victory.
The Warriors will have one final pre season hit out next Saturday afternoon against the Dolphins in Auckland.
-RNZ
