Rugby League: Adam Blair aims to retire from NRL as New Zealand Warriors lose to Canberra Raiders

Raiders 26
Warriors 14

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s NRL season is over, and the career of a great Kiwi could go in the same direction.

In a game that included the vision of Raiders coach Ricky Stuart throwing a plastic water bottle out the window, the Warriors were unable to maintain their first-half form when they fell in a 26-14 loss.

Tuivasa-Sheck, truly magnificent in the Warriors’ difficult NRL campaign in Tasmania, started in the 60th minute with a hamstring problem that will keep him out of the final game against the Sea Eagles.

The captain will receive a lot of applause as his Warriors revealed a tough new persona and promised a lot for the future with a series of credible performances under the direction of acting coach Todd Payten.

Part of this week’s attention will also be on the plans of 34-year-old forward Adam Blair, who is understood to be able to announce his retirement.

A series of signings have put even more pressure on Blair’s position: He is currently reconsidering his future, despite having a year left on his lucrative contract. Blair, who played as a trade forward against the Raiders, has played 330 NRL games at four clubs since 2006 plus 51 tests, second only to legendary Kiwi tough player Ruben Wiki.

The Warriors, out of the final contest, were badly hurt by two long-range interception attempts by the Raiders in a wild, controversial and scruffy game. And they couldn’t deliver the killing blows of the first half when they were often in charge.

But they fought to the end, and incoming coach Nathan Brown will arrive at a club that finally seems to be on the right track.

The Raiders finished stronger in a relatively calm second half compared to a crazy first spell.

The first half in Canberra was a carnival of chaos.

The Raiders led 16-14 at halftime, and no one, not even the men from the Australian capital will know how.

It could easily have been a 20-6 lead for the Warriors in the 33rd minute. But when Jazz Tevaga threw a pass calling for a try, it landed in space and Raiders wing Semi Valemei jumped.

He ran almost the length of the field, and lead hunter Chanel Harris-Tavita had no chance to make up ground. The potential turning points are not clearer.

In no particular order, the first half included all of the following.

Raiders coach Stuart threw a bottle of water out of his training box, protesting referee Chris Sutton’s decision against Jack Wighton; a decent fight between the sides was sparked by a scrum clash between Josh Papalii and Lachlan Burr with the big man from Canberra penalized; Papalii compounded the problem by being penalized for pulling Tohu Harris’ hair, the Raiders lost running back George Williams early in an HIA.

The climax was a sensational attempt by the Raiders, inspired by the desperate measures of outstanding second rower Elliott Whitehead, with Hudson Young picking up the ball with great skill to give the Raiders a lead at halftime.

The Warriors had dominated the half, with two attempts for Peta Hiku to put her side on the front foot.

The Raiders, seeking a top four spot, were unlucky enough to lose brilliant playmaker Wighton, who was sentenced to sin for a marginal offside, after a series of penalties against the Raiders.

When he left, his side was behind 10-6. Upon their return, they led 16-14. He then quickly abandoned the kickoff reception. It was a fitting conclusion for a crazy half.

Raiders 26 (Semi Valemei 2, Jarrod Croker, Hudson Young, Nick Cotric tries; Croker 2 cons, pen)
Warriors 14 (Peta Hiku 2 attempts; Chanel Harris-Tavita 2 cons, pen)
Halftime: 16-14