By Robert Dillon
Warriors coach Andrew Webster paid tribute to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck after the champion utility back made a crucial tackle with a torn hamstring in Friday night’s 14-6 win against Sydney Roosters in Auckland.
With the visitors clinging to a 6-4 lead in the 55th minute, Roosters winger Dominic Young burst clear and set sail for the corner, only to encounter a desperate last-ditch tackle from Tuivasa-Sheck and Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Kolkstad that prevented him from grounding the ball over the line.
Tuivasa-Sheck was only on the field because the Warriors hadn’t had a chance to replace him after he was injured a minute earlier. He limped off immediately afterwards and faces an indefinite stint on the sidelines.
“Roger had already torn his hamstring ... then he gets back and makes a try-saver and a tackle in the corner when his hamstring’s already gone,” Webster said.
“Those big plays, they were happening everywhere. You need them ... they’re just big moment, on a fast guy like Dom Young in the corner.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who coached Tuivasa-Sheck for four years at Bondi Junction, was not surprised by his former protege’s courageous effort.
“That’s Rog,” Robinson said. “He’s a good man and a great player and a selfless player, and they come up with those plays.”
The Warriors scored twice after denying Young, to post a win that exorcised some longstanding demons.
It was their first victory against the Roosters since March, 2018, ending an eight-game losing streak.
Halves Luke Metcalf and Chanel Harris-Tavita were outstanding for the home team, as was centre Ali Leiataua, who scored a try in each half, as the Warriors posted their second straight win.
Roosters fans breathed a sigh of relief after Victor Radley passed a head-injury assessment and was cleared to resume playing in the first half.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffered a hamstring injury against the Roosters.Credit: NRL Photos
Radley suffered a grade-one concussion in the season-opening thrashing from Brisbane and was automatically stood down for 11 days.
His return at Mt Smart Stadium lasted just 18 minutes before he attempted to tackle Warriors back-rower Marata Niukore and copped a hip to the side of the head.
The rugged lock, who has suffered multiple concussions in the past few seasons, was slow to regain his feet but passed his HIA and re-entered the match soon after being cleared.
There was no such reprieve for Roosters hooker Connor Watson, who was accidentally struck on the chin by the elbow of Warriors back-rower Jackson Ford in the last minute of the first half.
Watson appeared to have been knocked senseless and failed his HIA.
Given the disruption, the Roosters did well to lead 6-4 at half-time.
Their opening try came in the 22nd minute when in-form prop Naufahu Whyte charged over off a Watson dummy-half pass, spinning and powering through defenders.
The Warriors hit back four minutes later when a backline spread opened up enough of a gap for Leiataua to spear through.
The Roosters came within inches of scoring just before the break when centre Mark Nawaqanitawase produced a classic chip-and-chase effort, only to put a foot over the dead-ball line.
Harris-Tavia had more luck with his own chip-and-chase in the 65th minute, leaping above James Tedesco to re-gather, and then Leiataua gave his team some breathing space by stepping his way over 10 minutes from full-time.
The result lifted the Warriors to fifth on the ladder. The Roosters are in 14th position.