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David Neilson / Photosport
A dejected-looking Kodi Nikorima after the Warriors took down the Knights on Friday.
Warriors coach Nathan Brown is poised to play the long game with halves Chanel Harris-Tavita and Kodi Nikorima, confident that the pair will emerge as a leading combination.
Despite the Warriors having the best territory and possession, Harris-Tavita and Kodi Nikorima failed to stamp their mark in Friday night’s NRL clash against the Knights, who struck late to snatch a 20-16 victory.
While there have been several positives from the Kiwi club’s first two rounds, the red zone attack has struggled to consolidate, which was certainly the case in the first half against the Knights.
Missed opportunities didn’t hurt them against the Titans, but it was a different story Friday when the game was on the line before veteran Knights running back Mitchell Pearce forced a mistake on a kick and his teammates threw to death. .
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Brown admitted that he was disappointed in the performance of his playmakers in the first verse, but was reluctant to be too critical. He pointed to Harris-Tavita’s inexperience and the fact that he and Nikorima only formed their partnership at the end of last season.
The coach also revealed that he dramatically changed Harris-Tavita’s role starting in 2020, playing the 21-year-old with the ball and giving him more responsibility to lead the team through the park, rather than being confined to one side of the ruck.
Ashley Feder / Getty Images
Nathan Brown has given Chanel Harris-Tavita more responsibility leading the Warriors down the field.
“In the first 30 (minutes) they could have done some things a little bit better, we didn’t get to the right areas from the beginning,” Brown said. “For them it is learning and, unfortunately, sometimes it is lost to learn, that is the sad thing about learning.
“Chanel has played half a dozen games as a running back, he’s a very, very young midfielder. I have no doubt that he will become a good player for us. He is a great learner and he really works hard on his game.
“The combination of him and Kodi, I feel very comfortable that they will develop a great combination that will work well. Sometimes it just takes a little time.”
The halves were part of a resurgence in the second half and while they played well on patches, consistency is key. Nikorima also failed to get his dangerous running game going in the rainy conditions, staying just 20 meters on three carries.
However, the loss was not entirely his. Brown felt the team as a whole lacked the same energy and intention in the first half that was the hallmark of the first-round victory over the Titans.
But watching them attack in the second half to take the lead and overtake the Knights until the final five minutes, Brown saw enough to cheer up as he headed to next week’s big test in Canberra.
“The boys should believe that there is a soccer team within us somewhere,” he added.
“We still have a bit of work to do in combinations and learn from each other. The Knights are a top eight team, I think we all hope they will be there again at the end of the year. Their team improved from last year and we made three attempts with them.
“We think we have a bit of an advantage.”
Brown confirmed that the calf injury that forced prop Addin Fonua-Blake off the field in the first half was “just a cork.” Fonua-Blake finished the game again and should be fine to play the Raiders.
However, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (crushing tackle) and Jazz Tevaga (leading with the knee) may have a case to answer for in the judiciary after both were featured in the report.
“I don’t think there is much to all of this. I thought the game was played pretty fair,” Brown said of the incidents.
