"A sign for the future": Martin and Harris-Tavita shine against the Broncos

06/29/2024 04:00 AM

The One NZ Warriors versus the Brisbane Broncos has been a can't-miss matchup at Mt Smart dating back to the Auckland cub's first-ever match in 1995.

With nods to their history and heritage all around Go Media Stadium on Saturday, the Warriors bounced back from a woeful 66-6 defeat to the Gold Coast Titans the previous week to be 32-16 victors in Round 17, handing their original foes their fourth consecutive loss.

While Shaun Johnson has been ruled out for a month with an Achilles injury, Te Martin Martin was once again tasked with stepping up in the No. 7 jersey, teaming up with Chanel Harris-Tavita at 6.

From the outset, the pair showed what might be a glimpse of things to come - depending on Johnson's health and contract situation.

Harris-Tavita used the wet track to slide in for the opening try in the 9th minute, before Martin also gave the Broncos' defensive line the slip from dummy half - pointing to the left wing, before dating in himself to quickly put the Warriors up 12-0 within the first 15 minutes.

The halves linked up for the Warriors' third try as they attacked the left edge. Harris-Tavita went for the ball off Martin's kick into the in-goal, popping up full of confidence, which was backed up by the Bunker, showing that CHT had beaten Kotoni Staggs in the race to be up 16-0. The Warriors held a 16-6 lead at half-time.

But Warriors fans have seen strong starts from Andrew Webster's side throughout the 2024 season, only for the wheels to fall off as the match progressed. While the Broncos did manage to apply some pressure of their own, with Deine Mariner picking up a double, the home side didn't succumb to another second half collapse.

Martin put his stamp on the game with three try assists, including a well-weighted grubber kick to switch the direction of play and have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in the clear to down down, swinging the momentum back to the home side, up 22-10.

A handling error by Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad from a high ball eventually led to Xavier Willison charging through Wayde Egan in the 65th minute. The young Brisbane prop storming his way over the line with a further two defenders in his wake to set up a nervous finish for Warriors fans at 22-16.

That was until more Martin magic from the 20 metre line, where he lofted the ball towards Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to leap up for the aerial heroics he has become knwon for.

Then in the 72nd minute, Freddy Lussick and Mitch Barnett combined brilliantly in front of the Broncos' goal line. Lussick set up Barnett from dummy half, before securing an offload from New South Wales' 18th man to allow the Warriors' backup hooker to extend the lead further. Harris-Tavita's penalty kick in the final minutes was the icing on the cake.

While not perfect, the Warriors' performance against a weakened Broncos side post-Origin was a significant step up.

Calling the game alongside Sam Hewat for SENZ, former Warrior Blake Ayshford acknowledged the potential selection headaches that Webster will face in the halves if and when 264-match veteran Johnson is deemed fit to play again.

"I know the questions are going to come, but to be fair, I think we just celebrate what we have at the moment," Ayshford stated.

"We look too far forward sometimes, or too far back, but while we've got Chanel Harris-Tavita and Te Maire Martin firing at the moment, let's just celebrate that and watch how they can grow. This is a sign for the future."

While Johnson is 33-years-old and in the final year of his current contract with the club, Martin is 28 and Harris-Tavita is 25.

"I think there's still room for both Johnson and Martin in the team. If you have them firing, the sky's the limit for this team and I'm not one to give up on Shaun Johnson," Ayshford added.

The club also have five-eighth Luke Metcalf, who is currently unavailable as he continues to recover from a leg fracture. The Australian young gun could potentially return in the latter stages of the season if needed.

The Warriors next matchup is on the road against the currently 5th-placed Bulldogs, before their second bye in Round 19.

Listen to SENZ's highlights of the Warriors vs Broncos: