Episode 108 - Two-Point Pain & A Missing Piece in the Centres?

That one kind of hurts.

The Warriors falling just short.

A late try to Sam Healy in vain as the Dolphins escape in yet another tight encounter.

The edge defense from the Warriors ultimately letting them down.

It was an issue last year, but this year for the most part, for me, has been much improved.

I don't think the alarm bells should sound, but with a potential injury to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, questions have to be asked about how they'll adapt the back line.

Nick Beauly, Newstalk ZB's voice of sport in Christchurch, what are your thoughts, your feelings, your frustrations after that contest and the, another potential reshuffle in the back line?

Yeah, good day, Nathan.

Yeah, can't help but be a little bit frustrated.

It was a cracking game.

Uh, it lived up to its potential, second V third, and what is that now? I think it's either three or four games, uh, that the Dolphins and Warriors have contested which has been decided by six points or less.

Uh, but it does feel like one that slipped away.

You know, the- they led 12-4 when, uh, the Dolphins' halfback Izzy Katoa went off injured.

Uh, and then from there, uh, credit to the Dolphins with losing their linchpin playmaker, uh, to, to, to rally and then lead 20 to 12.

Then the Warriors come roaring back, nicely executed try from Chaunce on the, on the left edge.

Uh, what a, what a bit of individual brilliance and strength from Sam Healy to put them in front.

Uh, and then just to make a, a real hash of things at the end, uh, just seemed like a, a lack of urgency to not secure that restart.

Uh, and then, yeah, pretty diabolical really, that edge defense to allow what was a pretty loose pass to be picked up on the second or third bounce by Selwyn Cobbo.

Uh, he beat Leaupepe, beat Adam Pompie, who was actually over on the right wing.

Having started at left center, he ended up at right wing 'cause of the Dallin Watene-Zelezniak injury.

Uh, and then, uh, credit to Jermaine Osako as well, very, uh, very clutch to kick that winning conversion.

But yeah, frustrated.

Look, there are a lot of, um, pieces that are moving around in this Warriors puzzle at the moment with these injuries.

Of course, Dallin joining the likes of Valimaki Kamperera, uh, James Fisher-Harris, Leka Halasima, Jackson Ford, and that's not to mention the season-ending injuries of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tanner Boyd.

So look, um, I don't wanna be too critical because that's seven key pieces of a roster.