Feleti Mateo of the Warriors tries to break out of a tackle
during the NRL trial match against the Broncos at Forsyth
Barr Stadium in Dunedin. (Photo by Teaukura Moetaua/Getty
Images)
The Warriors sparked into life in the final quarter to
beat the Broncos 16-10 in the NRL pre-season game at Forsyth
Barr Stadium tonight.
Tries to Glen Fisiiahi and Todd Lowrie delighted the
15,000-strong crowd watching the first game of rugby league
to be played in the stadium.
The Warriors rebounded from a flat first half with a strong
finish, showing more enterprise and some good finishing.
A bizarre first half featured no fewer than four referrals to
the television match official. All four were to check the
legality of Broncos tries, and all four were denied. A fifth
rejection followed in the second half.
The Australians looked much sharper with the ball in hand and
regularly found holes in the Warriors' defence in the first
spell.
The Warriors were let down by poor handling and shoddy
passing when they managed to gain possession.
But their performance in the final quarter was much better,
and is a promising sign ahead of their opening NRL game on
March 9.
Warriors 16 (Manu Vatuvei, Glen Fisiiahi, Todd Lowrie tries;
Shaun Johnson pen, Pita Godinet goal), Broncos 10 (Lachlan
Maranta, Justin Hodges tries; Scott Prince goal). HT:
Warriors 2-0.
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