The Knights return to the circle of winners after overcoming a tenuous start to defeat the Warriors 24-16.
The “alarm bells” sounded early for the Knights when the Warriors scored two “soft” tries in eight minutes.
But they finally came to life and tied the score before the break.
The Warriors hit first in the second half, but a howling error — Chanel Harris-Tavita dropped the shot — gave the Knights the lead when a Kalyn Ponga ball sent Enari Tuala.
Both teams received blows in the second half with Daniel Saifiti ruled out for a knee injury, while Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya was sent to the trash for a high shot.
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‘UNEXCUSABLE’ ERRORS WERE MADE BY BOTH TEAMS
The Knights may have gotten the win, but both coaches will have a lot to say to their players after a clumsy game and mistakes.
The Warriors watched the song in the first 15 minutes, while the Knights were crushed by their “soft” defense after conceding two tries in eight minutes.
“In the first 10 minutes they conceded a penalty, they conceded a line break and they conceded two tries. Honestly, they are not here for the task right now. They need a big change of attitude and they need it fast, “Foxy Corey Parker told the Knights.
The tide changed and the Warriors also faced much of their flack.
“For the Warriors it was all positive notes for the first 15 minutes and then the next 25, mistakes, maximum expulsions, both attempts conceded,” said commentator Andrew Voss.
“The inconsistency of the two teams during the first 40 minutes is alarming.
“These bugs are in the Warriors’ DNA,” Voss added after half of the Chanel Harris-Tavita Warriors left the pitch.
Both teams ended up with nine errors each. Harris-Tavita was the culprit for three of the Warriors, while Shaun Johnson conceded four.
Four of the Warriors’ kicks came out on top, while the poor mannequin’s poor service stung the Knights.
“You can believe what we’re seeing from both sides with bad discipline and some poor mistakes … some of the mistakes we’ve seen from both sides have been inexcusable,” Corey Parker said.
Voss added: “Horrible … Adam O’Brien has left the field with Nathan Brown and they’re going to the pub.”
RUN SHAUN, RUN!
Premiership winning coach Shane Flanagan was “frustrated” to see Shaun Johnson in action against the Knights and urged the superstar half to run more.
Johnson’s running game makes him one of the most devastating players in the game of his day, but on Saturday he was far from his best, making just nine yards out of three runs.
“He’s just not going to direct Shaun,” Andrew Voss said.
“I get frustrated with Shaun because I know how good it can be and I just want him to do more,” Flanagan said.
“He can take this Warriors team and they can win with their skills if he runs football and attacks the defensive line. But if he wants to try to get through them, it just won’t work.
“He has to face the line and create so many opportunities.
“He has a good game of passes, but he has to hit the defensive line much harder. It just kicks back a little too often for me.
“If you run football, the Warriors are a dangerous team.”
Johnson did not have a good day today, often losing his footing on the muddy pitch.
“That’s exactly what Shaun Johnson can do,” Flanagan said.
“There he controlled the whole set and, while I asked him to run the ball more, if he makes plays like that he shouldn’t do it. It was a beautifully weighted kick … it puts it right in place. “
But it will be a game Johnson would rather forget after he ended up with a bitter note with the 31-year-old expelling himself to the fullest.
THE KNIGHTS DUO HANDS THE BLUES LIKE ANOTHER IS DISCARDING
It’s the weekend of the final auditions for a State of Origin call and two Knights strikers raised their hand, while a Blue starter was ruled out.
All eyes were on Daniel Saifiti, who was one of the best in New South Wales last year, but has had form problems during the first few months of the season.
The 26-year-old was under the bomb at the start of the game when his only seven-meter run compared to teammate David Klemmer’s five races.
“The focus is on him (Saifiti) today, David Klemmer has done five times in the first 20 minutes, Daniel Saifiti has made a ball run. What’s going on?” Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said.
“There were 17 hits in the first quarter of the game and Daniel made one … It doesn’t make sense … especially when we talk about playing with yourself alongside Origin.”
“That’s a good question … He has to have the ball in his hands,” Shane Flanagan replied.
“These strikers have to form a team, they have to work together. He’s a better player than having that amount of transport and yards, especially when his team needs him.”
The comments came during a stoppage of play while Saifiti was being attended to by a coach after injuring his knee. He left the field a minute later and it was later revealed that he had suffered an injury in the MCL and would not return to the field.
The injury means he is now likely to be out of competition for NSW.
But Saifiti teammates Tyson Frizell and David Klemmer sent a reminder to Blues coach Brad Fittler.
Frizell and Klemmer have played 14 original games, but Frizell did not appear in last year’s series, while Klemmer has not been selected since 2020.
Frizell scored in the Knights victory, got a rebound and ran for 133 meters, while making 35 innings without errors.
Klemmer hit 136 yards, the highest of all the strikers on the field, and hit one inning, two discharges, while making 25 innings with just one foul.
“Klemmer has worked hard today … Frizell also had a great one,” Andrew Voss said in a comment.
EQUIPMENT
Warriors: 1. Reece Walsh 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Viliami Vailea 4. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Ben Murdoch-Masila 9. Freddy Lussick 10. Jazz Tevaga 11. Euan Aitken 13. Jack Murchie 12. Mark Harris 14. Daniel Otukolo 15. Aaron Pene 16. Bunty Afoa 17. Eliesa Tots 21. Dunamis Lui. Substitute: 17. Eliesa Katoa
Gentlemen: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Edrick Lee 3. Dane Gagai 4. Enari Tuala 5. Dominic Young 6. Anthony Milford 7. Jake Clifford 8. David Klemmer 9. Chris Randall 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Lachlan Fitzgibbon 13 Mitchell Barnett 14. Phoenix Crossland 15. Jacob Saifiti 17. Mathew Croker 18. Simi Sasagi. Substitute: 16. Leo Thompson
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