WARRIORS 28 - 22 TITANS
FULLTIME: The Warriors have kept the Titans scoreless in the second and come from behind to secure a narrow 28-22 win over the Titans.
79mins: Johnson adds the extras
78mins: TRY WARRIORS: He missed the field goal, Renowned field-goal attempter Ryan Hoffman scores the possible match-winning try.
76mins: Bizzare sequence by the Warriors, which saw they throw the ball around and then on the last, Ryan Hoffman attempts a field goal. That's right RYAN HOFFMAN took a field goal.
76mins: Kane Elgey now attempts one for the Titans from 40 metres out and it goes wide, low and short. Now the Warriors have a seven tackle set.
74mins: Shaun Johnson takes a field goal and it goes wide, so now the Titans have a seven tackle set.
73mins: Titans set up for a field goal but fake it, and they make a mistake in the process and the Warriors pounce and now they are making quick ground.
72mins: Isaac Luke makes a crucial mistake near the Titans 20. Lets them off the hook as we approach crunch time. Then The Warriors give away a penalty so the Titans teams will start the set inside the Warriors' half.
70mins: Foran kicks on the last and the Titans make a great catch. But the Warriors defence is holding them in the Titans half and they are struggling to make any ground. Warriors take possession on the halfway line.
68mins: Joe Greenwood has been knocked out after he colided with Ryan James.
67mins: A poor end to the set by the Warriors, as Johnson was the only one chasing his own kick. Titans now have possession and are making great ground.
65mins: Issac Luke puts on a massive tackel on Joe Greenwood and forces a mistake. The Warriors are now the team with the momentium. Bodene Thompson is out for the remainder of the match. The injury is unknown.
63mins: We are all square in Auckland! Warriors attack down the right wing and make good ground. Johnsoon kicks on the last, and Tyronne Roberts-Davis just makes it back into the field of play.
61mins: TRY WARRIORS: Kieran Foran scores a try in his return match! Foran gets the ball from Johnson and puts the foot down to squeeze through the gap and power his way over the line. What a fantastic try.
60mins: Warriors attack down the blindside on the last and the Titans are forced to take the ball dead and the Titans will kick their third dropout tonight.
59mins: You get the feeling that the Titans are starting to win the arm wrestle. David Fusitu'a goes down after a knock to the head, but is fine to continue.
56mins: Awful end to the set by the Titans, they drop the ball cold on the last tackle right on the halfway line. Tyrone Roberts will not return for the away side tonight due to a leg injury.
54mins: Warriors have space down the let wing and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck throws a pass to the wing, but Maumaulo was too far back to catch the pass. The referee said the pass was forward.
53mins: Kane Elgey makes a fantastic play to keep the ball infield. The halfback was forced to play at the ball, but somehow throws it back infield and the Titans survive.
51mins: Frustrating end to the set by the Warriors. The Titans clearly played at the ball and touched it but the referee still says it is last tackle and Blake Ayshford is tackled inches from the line.
49mins: Warriors kick on the last, and the Titans take the ball dead, so the home-side gets a repeat set.
48mins: Shaun Johnson kick on the last and Tyrone Roberts makes the catch, but RTS was clearly taken out right in front of the referee and now a golden opportunity to get back into the match. Roberts is now leaving the field with an injury following the catch.
47mins: Great set following the try by the Warriors. That has given them some new energy, as they follow it up with some great defence.
44mins: TRY WARRIORS: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scores his first of 2017.
He steps past the Titans defence and powers his way over the line. Could have easily been tackled into touch, but gets the ball down.
43mins: Warriors have great field possession after three tackles, they are inside the red zone.
41mins: Warriors with a decent first set to start the half. Simon Mannering is back on the field, but is battling a neck injury.
40mins: The second half is underway in Auckland. Warriors will start with possession.
HALFTIME: Warriors trail by 10 at the break. Johnson scored the first try, but the Titans responded and had the better first half.
39mins: titans make a break through the middle and kicks the ball downfield, the ball nearly sits up for the Titans but Johnson batters the ball into touch.
38mins: Sam Lisone runs the ball hard, but spills the ball on impact. Poor run and even worse carry.
37mins: Titans have an overlap on down the left but, but throw a forward pass and the Warriors survive. Could have easily been another try to the visitors.
36mins: Fantastic set by the Titans following the try. RTS gathers the ball and takes the tackle. But they struggle to make much ground off the first four plays.
34mins: TRY TITANS: The Titans score their fourth. Tyrone Roberts kicks the ball infield to Tyronne Roberts-Davis but the ball doesn't sit up and Kayle Elgey gathers the ball and dives over.
33mins: Another possible try to the Titans. It will surely be something special if is awarded.
30mins: TRY TITANS: Sloppy defence by the Warriors and the Titans make them pay! Kane Elgey scores under the posts after fellow half Ash Taylor steps past Sam Lisone and finds Elgey.
29mins: Great carries from the Warriors' backs. Started with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, then David Fusitu'a followed up by Ken Maumalo, but it has a poor end as the Warriors kick the ball dead.
27mins: Titans kick on the fifth tackle and RTS makes another fantastic play getting back into the field of play.
26mins: Ash Taylor is down injured and the medical team are out on the field. The Titans currently have possession 30 metres out from the line
24mins: The Warriors get the ball and Solomone Kata is driven back at least 10 metres. After an impressive spell, James Gavet heads to the bench.
23mins: But a poor play by the Warriors means the Titans will have possession just inside their half.
21mins: Warriors win a penalty off the first play following the restart. It looks like the Warriors were lucky to win that penalty
20mins: TRY WARRIORS: The try is given. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck throws a perfect pass to Fus who scores in the right corner.
19mins: David Fusitu'a goes over but the referees want to take a look. If it is awarded, it will be his fourth of the season.
18mins: Kieran Foran Kicks the ball towards the posts and Dale Copley catches the ball but is forced ingoal and the Titans will kick a dropout. Simon Mannering is down injured.
17mins: Titans knock the ball forward off the first play of the ball and the Warriors have a perfect chance to respond.
14mins: TRY TITANS: Questionable try scored by the Titans. Dale Copley kicks the ball and it hits the back of Blake Ayshford and the ball bounces back to the centre who passes it to Daniel Vidot.
13mins: Shaun Johnson stacks a kick and the ball travels into touch which will give the players a chance to catch a breath.
11mins: Titans have a great set off the try, and David Fusitu'a makes a great catch, but is smashed by Ryan James who timed his tackle to perfection.
9mins: TRY TITANS: The Titans respond through Dale Copley. The centre breaks the tackle of Blake Ayshford to score in the corner.
8mins: Titans win a penalty and will start the set inside the Warriors half.
6mins: Warriors with some quick play the balls and it earns them a penalty as Joe Greenwood interfered with the play-the-ball.
4mins: TRY WARRIORS: Shaun Johnson scores his third try of the season. Isaac Luke makes a break from dummy half and breaks the line, and Johnson follows in support to run over under the black dot.
3mins: Roger the dodger gets the ball in the ingoal and makes a great run start the set.
2mins: Kieran Foran makes his first run with the ball and looks great. Warriors kick on the last and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck challenges Tyrone Roberts for the ball, and the Warriors captain makes a great catch, but is tackled.
1mins: Titans complete their first set and David Fusitu'a makes a nice kick return to start the Warriors first set.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Auckland. Isaac Luke gets the match started.
4:04pm: Kieran Foran is out on the field and Solomone Kata comes over to congratuate him.
4:03 pm: Titans are now out on the field.
4:00 pm: It looks like Kieran Foran has made it through warmups and finally will play. Massive blow for the Titans however as Konrad Hurrell has been ruled out of the match with a ankle injruy.
Hello and welcome to live updates of the New Zealand Warriors hosting the Gold Coast Titans at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights (be sure to refresh your browser) and all the action. VIDEO will be available as soon as the final whistle goes.
Commentary will start from around 4:00pm (NZT). In the meantime check out the video above as Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck talks about the criticism aimed at Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson.
Lineups
Warriors
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2.Blake Ayshford, 3. David Fusitu'a, 4. Solomone Kata, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Shaun Johnson, 15. James Gavet, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Jacob Lillyman, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange - 8. Charlie Gubb, 16. Sam Lisone, 17. Ligi Sao, 21. Mafoa'aeata Hingano
Titans
1. Tyrone Roberts, 2. Tyronne Roberts-Davis, 3. Dale Copley, 12. Chris McQueen, 5. Daniel Vidot, 6. Kane Elgey, 7. Ashley Taylor, 8. Jarrod Wallace, 9 Ryan Simpkins, 10. Ryan James, 11. Kevin Proctor, 17. Joe Greenwood, 13. Leivaha Pulu
Interchange - 14. Karl Lawton, 15. Nathaniel Peteru 16. Chris Grevsmuhl, 18. Max King
Match facts and stats
Referees: Adam Gee and Gavin Reynolds
Sideline officials: Jeff Younis and Anthony Elliot
Review officials: Luke Patten and Jared Maxwell
*Head to head: Played 20, Warriors 13, Titans 7, drawn 0
In New Zealand: Played 9, Warriors 6, Titans 3, drawn 0
Last time played: Warriors 24 def Titans 14, August 7, 2016
Last time in New Zealand: Warriors 27 def Titans 18, July 2, 2016
The Warriors have won 11 of the past 12 games between the two teams.
The Titans only win during that span was on ANZAC Day in 2015 where the Titans won 32-28.
This match will be the Titans 250th NRL match.
The Warriors have lost seven of their last eight matches.
Head-to-head: Warriors - $1.45 Titans - $2.60
*Stats from NRL.com
Pre-match banter - Roger Tuivasa-Sheck says Shaun Johnson is part of the solution, not the problem
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has come under plenty of criticism during his career and the latest set of backlash has forced captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to step in and defend his teammate.
After another poor start to the season by the Warriors, New South Wales coach Laurie Daley said the 26-year old playmaker needed to be dropped to get the best out of him.
"Sometimes I think you may have to do to something a little bit different with Shaun, maybe to get the best out of him," Daley said on Fox Sports NRL 360.
"Either play him elsewhere, starting him off the bench, not select him."
But Johnson has arguably been the Warriors best player in 2017, and Tuivasa-Sheck doesn’t believe dropping the halfback is the answer to success.
Speaking to Andrew Gourdie and Jim Kayes on RadioLIVE’s Sunday sport, the 23-year old fullback thinks the onus is on his teammates to lift their own individual performances.
"I don’t think dropping Shaun is the answer," said Tuivasa-Sheck.
"All of us need to step up and help him and get some pressure off him and get some good play going.
"Our whole team needs to step up to Shaun’s level."
After four games this season, Johnson is second in tries scored (2), and first in try assists (3) and tackle busts (11) for the Warriors and Tuivasa-Sheck thinks everybody needs to take a hard look in the mirror.
"Shaun has been performing in each game and I personally feel that he’s going really well.
"We are all turning up hoping it’s just going to happen for us when we all need to look at ourselves and own it more and dig ourselves out of this hole we have gotten ourselves into.
"There have been different coaches who have come and gone in the last couple of years, but I feel like it’s the players themselves who have to drive our performance."
The 23-year-old is in the first year as captain of the club, and believes his star playmaker offers more than crafty stepping skills to the Warriors.
The Samoan born Kiwi turns to Johnson during games for guidance as he is one of the players around the club who has the respect of the locker room.
"I look at players like Shaun and Simon [Mannering] who have the experience and respect around the club so I use them a lot.
"With Shaun controlling his edge, and Ryan [Hoffman] controlling the other edge, then you have Isaac [Luke] and Simon controlling the middle I try to link up with them so we are all on the same page.
"Even though I have the ‘c’ [Captain] next to my name, I look at these boys for experience."
The Warriors will look for their second win of the season when they host the Gold Coast Titans on Sunday afternoon.
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