While Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Tuimoala Lolohea were attracting all the plaudits for their one-two golden point match-winner, celebration man Jacob Lillyman delivered an outstanding performance in the middle of the park as the Vodafone Warriors beat the Sydney Roosters 32-28 on Sunday.
In his milestone 150th appearance for the club – the 11th player to reach the mark – the 32-year-old rose to his best performance of the season.
Playing a total of 57 minutes (his longest stint so far this year), he carried the ball 20 times, made 159 metres (easily the most of any forward on the park) and made 30 tackles as well as throwing a peach of a pass for Shaun Johnson’s first try.
This week he is poised to make his 151st appearance for the club, the most by an Australian player for the Vodafone Warriors; in his eighth season in Auckland, he also has the longest career of more than 50 Australian players who have represented the club since its formation in 1995.
Front row partner Ben Matulino put together a 67-minute effort making 124 metres from 15 runs plus 34 tackles.
There were also big numbers from hooker Issac Luke, who was on the field the full 81 minutes. He made 127 metres from 14 carries including six dummy half runs with six tackle breaks plus 30 tackles.
Tuivasa-Sheck finished with a game-high 17 metres from 18 runs. His match-winning stunner aside, he came up with try assists for Manu Vatuvei and for Solomone Kata’s second try, three line break assists, three tackle breaks and 14 supports.
As well as inspiring Tuivasa-Sheck’s moment of glory, Lolohea made 160 metres from 12 runs, produced try assists for Johnson’s second and for Tuivasa-Sheck’s touchdown plus two line breaks.
STATISTICS | v SYDNEY ROOSTERS, CENTRAL COAST STADIUM, GOSFORD | WON 32-28
Penalties | Vodafone Warriors 7, Roosters 9.
Completions | Vodafone Warriors 26/39 (67%), Roosters 26/34 (77%).
Total runs | Vodafone Warriors 175, Roosters 156.
Metres gained | Vodafone Warriors 1501, Roosters 1256.
Dummy half runs (metres) | Vodafone Warriors 9 (58), Roosters 4 (37).
Line breaks | Vodafone Warriors 7, Roosters 3.
Tackle breaks | Vodafone Warriors 29, Roosters 34.
Kicks (kicking metres) | Vodafone Warriors 13 (329), Roosters 14 (313).
Tackles Made | Vodafone Warriors 278, Roosters 318.
Missed tackles | Vodafone Warriors 34, Roosters 29.
Offloads | Vodafone Warriors 12, Roosters 10.
Errors | Vodafone Warriors 10, Roosters 12.
Runs | Vodafone Warriors: Jacob Lillyman 20, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 18, Ben Matulino 15, Issac Luke 14, Simon Mannering 13, Tuimoala Lolohea 12, Ryan Hoffman 10, Manu Vatuvei 10, Shaun Johnson 10. Roosters: Dylan Napa 15, Aidan Guerra 13, Sio Siua Taukeiaho 13, Kane Evans 11, Blake Fergusson 11, Latrell Mitchell 10, Sam Moa 10.
Metres gained | Vodafone Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 171, Tuimoala Lolohea 160, Jacob Lillyman 159, Issac Luke 127, Ben Matulino 124, Simon Mannering 94, Ryan Hoffman 84, Manu Vatuvei 81. Roosters: Mitchell Aubusson 114, Dylan Napa 112, Aidan Guerra 111, Sio Siua Taukeiaho 108, Latrell Mitchell 105.
Tackle breaks | Vodafone Warriors: Solomone Kata 7, Issac Luke 6, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 3, Ben Matulino 3. Roosters: Latrell Mitchell 6, Shaun Kenny-Dowall 6, Sio Siua Taukeiaho 5, Blake Ferguson 4, Mitchell Aubusson 4.
Off loads | Vodafone Warriors: Manu Vatuvei 3, Shaun Johnson 2, Ben Matulino 2, Albert Vete 2. Roosters: Daniel Tupou 3, Latrell Mitchell 2, Shaun Kenny-Dowall 2.
Tackles made | Vodafone Warriors: Simon Mannering 39, Ben Matulino 34, Issac Luke 30, Jacob Lillyman 30, Ryan Hoffman 21, Charlie Gubb 21H. Roosters: Jake Friend 46, Aidan Guerra 39, Dylan Napa 34, Mitchell Aubusson 30, Isaac Liu 25, Kane Evans 21, Sam Moa 21, Sio Siua Taukeiaho 20.
Missed tackles | Vodafone Warriors: Ryan Hoffman 0, Charlie Gubb 0, Jazz Tevaga 0, Sam Lisone 0. Roosters: Mitchell Aubusson 0, Daniel Tupou 0, Jayden Nikorima 0, Mitchell Frei 0.
Supports | Vodafone Warriors: Jeff Robson 21, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 14, Charlie Gubb 11, Ben Matulino 10, Blake Ayshford 7, Solomone Kata 7. Roosters: Mitchell Aubusson 15, Aidan Guerra 10, Latrell Mitchell 8, Sio Siua Taukeiaho 8.
Decoys | Vodafone Warriors: Ben Matulino 11, Ryan Hoffman 7, Charlie Gubb 7, Simon Mannering 6, Albert Vete 5. Roosters: Isaac Liu 3, Eloni Vunakece 3.
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