World Cup: New Zealand vs Samoa (Group B)

[DIEHARD]

NEW ZEALAND vs SAMOA
Sunday October 27 KO: 6:00pm
HALLIWELL JONES STADIUM WARRINGTON

[DIEHARD]

This game is up next. Kiwis will be hard to stop. Could be a riot.

[TITAN PETE]

Super man is made look a fool

[TITAN PETE]

Sonny spill embarrasses in Kiwis' opener
By Liam FitzGibbon
AAP
9:42am Mon 28th October, 2013


Many predicted Sonny Bill Williams to feature heavily among the memorable moments of the Rugby League World Cup, but this surely wasn't what they had in mind.

The Kiwi superstar, the tournament's star attraction, was left red faced after producing one of the biggest howlers in recent rugby league memory in New Zealand's 42-24 victory over Samoa on Sunday.

The dual international, in his first game for the Kiwis since the Anzac Test of 2008 after defecting to union, looked set to cap a solid performance with a try with 12 minutes to play.

It started with a brilliant run which left defenders sprawled all over the field.

He crossed the line totally free of pressure, before inexplicably running deep into the narrow in-goal before slipping and putting a foot into touch before he could ground the ball.

Williams' look of embarrassment told the story before the try was officially disallowed by the video referee.

"Embarrassed to not score, but nothing wrong with a lil humble pie," Williams tweeted shortly after the contest.

The ruling was met with jeers from the near-14,000 fans packed into Warrington's Halliwell Jones Stadium who had been baying support for a spirited Samoa side.

Given it had little bearing on the result, it even attracted a laugh from coach Stephen Kearney.

"He might want to check his boots next time," joked Kearney.

"It was a good indication of that period of the game."

Williams had been strong throughout the match defensively, while two of his trademark offloads led to tries.

His howler provided further entertainment in an already-thrilling Group B match that also featured a hat-trick to Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei.

[DIEHARD]

What a game. What a game. Loved it. The SBW blooper was hilarious. But understandable with the ridiculously small in goals. The French video ref takes the prize though!

Fantastic crowd in Warrington of 14.5k

[DIEHARD]

Sonny Spill! Hahaha.

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[TITAN PETE]

Player ratings: New Zealand v Samoa

NRL.com
12:00pm Mon 28th October, 2013



Sonny Bill Williams bombed a certain try by slipping over the dead ball line against Samoa.
Player ratings from New Zealand's 42-24 win over Samoa in their opening match of the 2013 Rugby League World Cup.

NEW ZEALAND

1. Josh Hoffman – The Kiwis custodian scored a try and created two others for teammates in an error-free performance. 8

2. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck – Set up Simon Mannering's first try before scoring one himself with a superb diving, one-handed effort. Finished with six tackle breaks and was a constant threat on the right wing. 8

3. Dean Where – Combined brilliantly with Tuivasa-Sheck on the right flank, making seven runs for 105 metres plus two line breaks and another couple of line-break assists. 8

4. Bryson Goodwin – Was targeted in defence, making 17 tackles but missing six, and produced a couple of errors in attack. 6.5

5. Manu Vatuvei – The 'Beast' was at his brutal best, scoring a hat-trick and running 12 times for 117 metres. 8

6. Kieran Foran – Produced a try assist, hit hard in defence as usual and controlled the kicking game well. 7.5

7. Shaun Johnson – Barely ran at the Samoan defence all match but he did produce a great inside ball to send Simon Mannering over for his second. 7

8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – The best of the Kiwis' forwards, making 18 hit-ups for a game-high 165 metres, although his aggressiveness did cost his team a couple of penalties. 8

9. Issac Luke – Burrowed over for a try from dummy-half, ran for more than 100 metres and did plenty of work in defence with 28 tackles. 8

15. Sam Moa – Grabbed a starting spot ahead of Jesse Bromwich but was busier in defence than attack. 7

11. Frank Pritchard – A solid performance from the veteran back-rower, albeit not as destructive as some of his teammates. 7

12. Sonny Bill Williams – Spectacularly bombed a sitter by slipping over the dead-ball line while attempting to touch down,but did produce two offloads that sent teammates into space on the way to tries plus four tackle breaks, a line break and 24 tackles. 8

13. Simon Mannering – The skipper scored a double and led the Kiwi tackle count with 33. 8

10. Jesse Bromwich – The Storm prop was effective with and without the ball, running 10 times for 98 metres while making 18 tackles and missing none. 7.5

14. Elijah Taylor – Was solid if unspectacular in his limited time off the bench. 6

16. Sam Kasiano – Defended well but only made two hit-ups off the bench. 6

17. Frank-Paul Nuuausala – Provided real impact, with two tackle busts and a line break. 7.5

SAMOA

1. Anthony Milford – Looked dangerous when he got his hands on the ball but lacked a bit of chemistry with halves Reni Maitua and Ben Roberts. 7

2. Antonio Winterstein – Scored an early try for Samoa but otherwise had a limited impact on the wing. 6

3. Junior Sa'u – The burly centre got heavily involved with 10 runs for 102 metres. 7.5

4. Joey Leilua – The Samoans' most dangerous outside back with 13 carries, five tackle breaks, a try and an offload, Leilua also coughed up a couple of errors and two penalties. 7.5

5. Daniel Vidot – Ran the ball out from his own end strongly but made a couple of missed tackles as Tuivasa-Sheck and Whare ran riot. 7

6. Reni Maitua – A quiet performance from the Samoan pivot. 6

7. Ben Roberts – Fended off Sam Moa to score a hard-earned try, kicked an impressive 40/20 and finished with four tackle breaks and a try assist. 7.5

8. David Fa'alogo – Provided good go-forward and got through plenty of defensive work with 29 tackles. 7.5

9. Pita Godinet – Led his team's defensive workload and provided a try assist and a couple of offloads. 7.5

10. Suaia Matagi – Crashed over for a true prop's try, didn't miss a tackle and was Samoa's only forward to notch a century of run metres. 8

11. Iosia Soliola – A solid performance from the big former Rooster. 7

12. Frank Winterstein – The least effective of the starting Samoan pack. 6

13. Suaso Sue – A typically busy display from the boom Tigers lock, with eight carries, a couple of tackle busts and 27 tackles. 7

14. Peni Manumalealii – Got limited game-time when finally given a chance in the second-half, but still managed to come up with a try. 6

15. Leeson Ah Mau – Made 14 tackles and a couple of tackle busts during Samoa's second-half comeback. 7

16. Mark Tafua – Got through 12 carries and 20 hit-ups off the bench. 7

17. Mose Masoe – The big St Helens-bound forward looked dangerous with the ball, drawing in plenty of defenders. 7

[TITAN PETE]

Player ratings: New Zealand v Samoa


NEW ZEALAND


4. Bryson Goodwin – Was targeted in defence, making 17 tackles but missing six, and produced a couple of errors in attack. 6.5


SAMOA


6. Reni Maitua – A quiet performance from the Samoan pivot. 6

7. Ben Roberts – Fended off Sam Moa to score a hard-earned try, kicked an impressive 40/20 and finished with four tackle breaks and a try assist. 7.5

Are the Kiwi's that desperate to have to play Goodwin , i hope he's there when the Aussie's play them

I couldn't believe the Samoan halves seriously Maitua at 6 is bad enough but Roberts to get a start at all is hard to believe..

[DIEHARD]

MUST SEE

[Mt Smart]

I'm picking Alex Glen will get a run in Goodwins spot , or he goes to 13 and Mannering will play center.

Great game , set the World cup alight after a very good opening game , followed by Italy's Quality then Samoa's fire and brimstone WOW.

Nice even old fashioned low scoring affair with PNG and France , I watched the replay after the NZ V Samoa match , boy those players looked tiny.....bit worried about how they are going to stop the other twos dump trucks.

That fumble by Wiliams was a delight for the fans who chanted , pointed and Laughed !!!!

Magic World cup so far , international league is delivering a special

[C-Whiz]

I enjoyed the crap out of this game. Geez, didn't Samoa put together 15 minutes of enthusiastic footy! Great stuff! And the crowd was AMAZING!!! Singing and chanting. Great atmosphere.