One New Zealand Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki grabbed maximum points while teammate Jackson Ford is still at the top of the Dally M leader board.
Tuaupiki was awarded the full six points after his superb display – including what proved to be the match-winning try – in the Warriors’ hard-earned 20-18 win over the Dolphins in Saturday’s Anzac Round clash at Hnry Stadium in Wellington.
The other six points were shared by Ford and loose forward Erin Clark with three each.
Ford, who has been top of the table all but one week of the season so far, now has 31 points with Penrith’s Nathan Cleary three points behind after picking up four points in the Panthers’ win over Newcastle.
Tuaupiki’s try off a slick short side play levelled the scores at 18-18 on Saturday night, halfback Tanah Boyd putting his side 20-18 ahead with the clutch conversion, the Warriors then holding for the last 17 minutes to secure a vital victory.
Match: Warriors v Dolphins
Round 8 -
home Team
Warriors
2nd Position
away Team
Dolphins
12th Position
Venue: Hnry Stadium, Wellington
Besides his first try of the season, Tuaupiki made a team-high 236 metres from 23 runs with eight tackle breaks and two line breaks plus a key had in Dallin Watene-Zelezniak’s first half try.
Dally M leaderboard | Round 8
31 Jackson Ford (One New Zealand Warriors)
28 Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
23 Dylan Edwards (Panthers)
22 Scott Drinkwater (Cowboys)
20 Adam Doueihi (Wests Tigers)
18 James Tedesco (Roosters)
16 Latrell Mitchell (Rabbitohs)
15 Braydon Trindall (Sharks), Haumole Olakau'atu (Sea Eagles)
