David Fusitu’a scores hat-trick as Warriors down Knights 26-22

A LATE try and a hat-trick from David Fusitu’a helped the Warriors overcome a nerve-racking Knights fightback at Mt Smart Stadium.

IT was an all too familiar result for the Newcastle Knights.

But coach Nathan Brown and his players will feel like they let a great opportunity slip through their fingers in Auckland.

The Warriors prevailed 26-22 with a dubious late Ryan Hoffman try proving the game-clincher for the home side.

A first half hat-trick to centre David Fusitu’a and some telling involvement from Shaun Johnson highlighted the win but the Knights only had themselves to blame for not getting the perfect start to the season.

A host of first half errors invited the Warriors into the game and trailing 20-8 at half-time, the Knights looked out of it.

Shaun Johnson makes a break for the Warriors.

But a stirring second half fightback, led by an impressive double to winger Nathan Ross, saw them hit the front 22-20 only to self-destructed with a lack of composure as they looked for the matchwinner.

In the end, it was some brilliance from Warriors captain Roger Tuivava-Sheck that got his side home.

With the Knights pressing the line, he picked off an ill-directed grubber from Brock Lamb a few metres from his own tryline before stepping through and running 60 metres to put his side on the attack.

Less than a minute later, Hoffman surged over despite suggestions he may have knocked on in the lead up.

The Knights lost fullback Dylan Phythian to a serious knee injury early in the second half while Simon Mannering and Issac Luke both failed to finish the game for the Warriors.

David Fusitu'a celebrates a try with his Warriors teammates.

Fusitua scored his hat-trick within the space of 12 minutes as the Warriors recovered from a slow start to lead 20-8 at the break.

It looked promising early for the Knights after they jumped out to an 8-0 advantage to put the home side back on their heels.

Centre Peter Mata’utia came down with a pinpoint Lamb bomb for a converted try to put his side 6-0 up after nine minutes and he could have added a second soon after but was pulled back for a forward pass.

The Knights continued to roll up the centre of the Warriors ruck and went close against with Phythian brought down short in a desperate Charlie Gubb tackle when he looked set to score.

Nathan Ross runs the ball for the Knights.

A Trent Hodkinson penalty goal extended the advantage to eight points at the 22-minute mark before Newcastle self-destructed with a series of errors.

Fusitu’a scored his first off Johnson after a poor defensive read by Hodkinson and Solomone Kata crossed five minutes later to hit the front after a Phythian error on the first tackle following a scrum win.

Lamb then committed the cardinal sin of kicking the restart out on the full and four minutes later, Fusitua had his second after an acrobatic tap back from Tuimoala Lolohea after a Johnson kick for a 14-8 lead.

But worse was to come for the Knights right on the stroke of half-time when the Warriors centre completed his hat-trick after a brilliant Johnson flick pass out the back.

David Fusitu'a scores a try for the Warriors.

The Knights needed to be the first scorers in the second half and replacement prop Jack Stockwell gave them a sniff with a soft try to narrow the gap to six after 53 minutes.

Then Ross turned the game on it’s head with two tries in four minutes with Mitch Barnett and Hodkinson heavily involved.

All of a sudden, the Knights were back in front 22-18.

But Hoffman ensured his side would take the two points when he steamrolled over the top of Lamb with eight minutes left to put the home side back in front.

NZ WARRIORS 26 (D Fusitua 3 R Hoffman S Kata tries S Johnson 2 I Luke goals) bt NEWCASTLE 22 (N Ross 2 P Mata’utia J Stockwell tries T Hodkinson 3 goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Alan Shortall, David Munro. Crowd: 13,712.

Originally published as David Fusitu’a scores hat-trick as Warriors down Knights 26-22