WARRIORS 14 - 13 ROOSTERS
FULLTIME: The Warriors have won 14-13 what a win! Defence won the Warriors that game
79mins: Warriors take the kickoff.
79mins: PENALTY GOAL WARRIORS: The Warriors take the lead.
78mins: Warriors going for goal. Massive kick here.
77mins: Warriors win a penalty as the Roosters were offside. 20 metres from the line.
76mins: Roosters with a dirty play and the Warriors win a penalty.
74mins: FIELD GOAL ROOSTERS: The Chooks take the lead with five minutes to go.
74mins: Another charged down field goal. Roosters with another set of six.
73mins: Roosters held up over the line. Warriors defending their line again.
71mins: Poor set by the Warriors. Very reminiscent of the Raiders match where they had chances but they are not completing their sets.
71mins: Seven tackle set for the Warriors.
70mins: More great defence by the Warriors.
70mins: Roosters force a repeat set.
69mins: Mitchell Pearce goes for the field goal and it has been charged, Roosters with a fresh set of six.
68mins: Michael Gordon makes a break from the kick return. Roosters on the front foot.
66mins: Roosters make quick yards up the middle of the field. Warriors starting to look tired.
65mins: Roosters kick on the last and Ken Maumalo makes a great catch.
63mins: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck makes a break from the scrum. Three plays later Luke drops the ball over the line.
62mins: Warriors foce a turnover. Great defence
61mins: Shaun Johnson spots a hole and goes for it but the Roosters hold him up inches from the line.
60mins: Warriors get a penalty. Johnson milked it but SKD was offside. Warriors to start the set in Roosters territory.
59mins: Another great catch by the Roosters. They need a penalty and the crowd to get them back into the match.
57mins: News alert... The Warriors have the ball.
55mins: PENALTY GOAL ROOSTERS: Tie game in Auckland. Massive win for the Warriors after defending their hearts out.
54mins: Roosters knock the ball on, but it is a penalty.... Roosters going for the points to tie the match up.
53mins: The Chooks kick on the last and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck drops the ball trying to save the try. Warriors must defend the line again. The rain is still falling.
52mins: Another poor call by the ref and the Chooks have six more. Warriors have to defend the line again.
51mins: Sam Lisone drops the ball and the Warriors must defend the goalline again.
50mins: Roosters win a penalty. Two plays later Daniel Tupou steps into touch. I am amazed how the Rooster did not score.
49mins: The Roosters had a try for all money. That should have been a try, but they took it easy and RTS saves the try.
48mins: The rain is back in Auckland.
47mins: TRY ROOSTERS: Heartbreak for the Warriors as Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercepts the ball to score near the posts. Lucky catch by the Kiwi, if he didn't get his hand to the ball the Warriors would have made a nice break
46mins: I take that back. Somehow the Roosters have the ball?? I'm conused. It was a complete tackle so that means Warriors ball? Clearly not.
46mins: Possible try to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. No try. But the Warriors will still have the ball.
45mins: Warriors make little ground off their set. Johnson puts the ball high and the Warriors regather.
43mins: Issac Luke puts Kieran Foran into a hole and he breaks the line. Disappointing end on the next play as Johnson's pass goes into touch. Daniel Tupou is back on the field.
42mins: RTS makes another great catch. Even though it has stopped raining the ground is still very wet.
41mins: Roosters first set of the second half is a good one. Made 50 metres and Pearce puts up a solid kick in on the last. RTS makes a beacuse catch.
40mins: The second half is underway in Auckland. Roosters will play four minutes with 12 men. The rain has stopped for now in Auckland.
HALFTIME: Solid first half by the Warriors who lead 12-4 at the break.
39mins: Warriors have the overlap on the right wing, but the ball is dropped. Roosters will have one last shot before halftime.
38mins: Another missed forward pass by the refs....
37mins: Warriors return the ball from the restart. They cant afford to let the Chooks score before the break, something they can be guilty of doing.
34mins: TRY WARRIORS: David Fusitua scores his seventh try of the season. Easy try as Fus gets the perfect pass from Johnson and flies over the line for the Warriors second. Johnson kicks the conversion.
33mins: YELLOW CARD ROOSTERS: Daniel Tupou is sent to the bin after committing a professional foul.
33mins: It is actually pooring in Auckland. Warriors kick on the last and it is a monster of a kick by Issac Luke and Shaun Johnson strips the ball in the tackle.
32mins: The rain is starting to fall in Auckland.
31mins: Two players after the penalty, Sam Lisone drops the ball. Anotehr redzone error by the Warriors.
30mins: Warriors win a penalty, and they take the tap.
29mins: Poor kickoff by Issac Luke but it benefits the Warriors as they get a dropout as JWH touches the ball.
27mins: TRY ROOSTERS: Awful defence by the Warriors and Joseph Manu steps past three warriors players to score in the right corner. Michael Gordon shanks the conversion.
26mins: Poor pass by Shaun Johnson and Shaun Kenny-Dowall makes a break. he is tackled 30 from the line.
25mins: Roosters attack down the wing, and the refs missed a forward pass. Daniel Tupou kicks infield and it nearly sits up but RTS gathers the ball and makes a nice run. Warriors win a penalty.
24mins: The results might not be there, but you can notice a massive improvement in the side from round one to now. Things looking positive. Warriors kick on the last and Luke kicks the ball into touch.
22mins: Nicoll-Klokstad is making some great runs and he is playing the ball very quickly. Ben Matulino comes on for his first stint of the match.
20mins: Warriors kick on the last but Daniel Tupou leaps high into the sky and they will have a seven-tackle set.
18mins: Roosters make a break but the ball doesnt go to hand and the Chooks make their third mistake of the match. Warriors to start the set just inside the Roosters half.
17mins: Warriors with some quick play-the-ball and make quick yards. Dylan Napa wacks David Fusitua in the face but no penalty called.
16mins: Simon Mannering drops the ball but it was an unlucky call. Their first mistake of the game right in front of the posts.
14mins: Warriors with the ball on halfway and it is nearly intercepted by Joseph Manu but the ball goes to ground. Saved a linebreak down the wing.
13mins: Foran kicks the ball into touch and that will give the players a chance for a quick breather. Warriors lead 6-0 early on. James Gavet with the opening try if you are just tuning in.
11mins: Boyd Cordner goes close to scoring but the last bounce doesn't sit up and he drops it as he tries to catch it. Great defence by the Warriors.
10mins: Roosters force a dropout after trapping Nicoll-Klokstad.
9mins: Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad makes his first run of his career. Makes some good yards.
8mins: Some great carries by the Roosters outside backs. They attack the wing of Nicoll-Klokstad but can't gets through. They kick on the last and Maumalo makes the catch.
7mins: It is key for the Warriors to follow up the try with a solid set, something that has been inconsistent of late.
5mins: TRY WARRIORS: James Gavet scores the opening try for the Warriors. The prop crashes over close to the line. Johnson converts the try.
4mins: But two plays later, they do knock it on. Warriors with another chance to attack.
3mins: Warriors have the attacking oportunity. Foran kicks on the last and the Roosters nearly knock the ball forward but the referee says play on.
2mins: Roosters complete their first set.... Warriors go on the counter and win a penalty.
1min: Mannering bobbles the ball but regathers. Warriors make 50 metres off their first set.
KICKOFF: We are underway in Auckland. Warriors have the first use of the ball.
4:04pm: Roosters are now out on the field. Warriors now out. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Boyd Cordner hug before kickoff.
4:02pm: Nice crowd in attendance in Auckland. It is chilly but should be a cracker.
4:00pm: Big day for Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad who is making his debut for the Warriors this weekend. Also for a number of Kiwis' players who are fighting for a spot in the ANZAC Test.
3:55pm: Ryan Hoffman will be playing his 50th game for the Warriors today, while Blake Ferguson plays his 150th NRL match.
Hello and welcome to live updates of New Zealand Warriors hosting the Sydney Roosters 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 Shaun Johnson talks about his decision to resign with the Warriors on a two-year deal.
Lineups
Warriors
1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 3. David Fusitua 4. Blake Ayshford, 5. Ken Maumalo, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Shaun Johnson, 8. James Gavet, 9. Issac Luke, 10. Jacob Lillyman, 11. Bodene Thompson, 12. Ryan Hoffman, 13. Simon Mannering
Interchange: 14. Nathaniel Roache, 15. Ligi Sao, 16. Sam Lisone, 17. Ben Matulino
Roosters
1. Michael Gordon, 2. Daniel Tupou, 3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall 4. Joseph Manu, 5. Blake Ferguson, 6. Luke Keary, 7. Mitchell Pearce, 8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, 9. Jake Friend, 10. Dylan Napa, 11. Boyd Cordner, 13. Aiden Guerra, 16. Sio Siua Taukeiaho
Interchange: 12. Mitchell Aubusson, 15. Zane Tetevano, 21. Kane Evans 22. Connor Watson
Match facts and stats
Referees: Ashley Klein and Jon Stone
Sideline officials: Jeff Younis and Clayton Sharpe
Review officials: Jared Maxwell and Luke Patten
The Roosters have won just three of their past nine NRL matches against the Warriors in New Zealand, coming in successive seasons from 2013-15.
The Roosters have won only two of their past seven games at Mount Smart Stadium
The Warriors have conceded 20 points or more in seven of their eight NRL matches in 2017.
The Roosters have won four of their five away matches in 2017 so far, already far superior to their single away win in the 2016 campaign.
Past meetings
*Head to head: Played 37, Warriors 20, Roosters 16, drawn 1
In Auckland: Played 15, Warriors 10, Roosters 6, drawn 0
Last time played: Warriors 12 def Roosters 10, June 19, 2016
Head-to-head: Warriors - $2.00 Roosters - $1.75
*Stats from NRL.com
Pre-match banter - Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson backs struggling utility Tui Lolohea to prove his worth
Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson has backed out-of-favour utility Tui Lolohea to find his way back into the side after not being named for this weekends’ clash against the Sydney Roosters.
The 22-year old has been left out in favour of rookie Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, who has been the star player for the Warriors reserve grade squad, replacing Solomone Kata, who has a hamstring injury.
After another selection snub, Lolohea’s future at the club is up in the air with five Australian sides reportedly chasing his signature including the Canberra Raiders and the Ivan Cleary coached Wests Tigers.
Despite not featuring, Johnson wants the one-Test Kiwi to stay at the club, but admitted he needs to work on a number of skills if he wants to become a regular first grader.
"Everybody knows what Tui can do. He knows that he's got a lot of work to do to warrant selection every week in first grade," said Johnson.
"There's no doubting his ability and the impact he can have on a football team so I'm sure we'll see him playing first grade soon."
Lolohea is known for his ability to play every backline position, which at times has been to his benefit, but Johnson believes that has been Lolohea’s downfall.
"That's the thing with Tui, it's a good and bad thing with being so versatile."
"I think he could be a really good fullback, the way he can chime into the line and ball-play and his footwork and speed.
"He's got a bit of work to do there again, but fullback could really be something he could cement himself as and commit to.”
Despite not picking Lolohea, coach Stephen Kearney has defended the selection of Nicoll-Klokstad, saying that the 21-year old deserves a chance to showcase his talents in the top side.
"He's (Lolohea) well aware of the situation," said Kearney.
"I've said right from the start I'll be rewarding performance and that's why Charnze is making his debut this week.”
"He has been the most consistent player for the Intertrust Super Premiership (ISP) team who have not lost a game this year.
"He trained really well in the off-season and during the last six to eight weeks, (so) that's why he gets an opportunity.
"I'm sure Tui will bounce back and get an opportunity in the not too distant future."
Johnson, who re-signed with the Warriors for two more seasons, is looking forward to playing with Nicoll-Klokstad this weekend against the Roosters.
"I’ve worked with Charnze for the last year or two now," said Johnson.
"Haven't played with him (yet), but I've seen his work ethic and if that's anything to go off, he's a pretty special kid.
"To be so driven, to see the work he puts in, I’m so stoked he gets the chance to play in front of his friends and family this week at the highest level.
"It’s a childhood dream and I’m looking forward to playing with him."
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