NZ Warriors Add to Roosters Defeats

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Roger Tuivasa-Sheck sent his former side Sydney Roosters tumbling to their fifth successive loss to start the NRL season in a sensational 32-28 golden-point Warriors win. The star fullback finished off a 70-metre movement to race away for the match-winning try in extra-time at Central Coast Stadium on Sunday in front of 10,113 fans.

After Tuimoala Lolohea fielded a lacklustre Jackson Hastings kick and found some space, he dished off to Tuivasa-Sheck who charged to the try line and produced a powerful fend on Shaun Kenny-Dowall to cross. The scores were locked at 28-all after 80 minutes.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s try was his first for the Warriors since leaving the Roosters at the end of last season in his first match against his old side.

Kenny-Dowall scored the first of his two tries in the fourth minute chasing down a Blake Ferguson kick, and a Hastings conversion and a penalty goal minutes later took the home side out to 8-0.

The Warriors then struck back in fine style, scoring four tries in 20 minutes. Manu Vatuvei crashed over to open the visitors’ account in the 15th minute before Solomone Kata scored his first try 13 minutes later.

Shaun Johnson then crossed for two tries, the second a scintillating 55m effort in which Lolohea broke the line and kicked inside for a flying Johnson to touch down under the posts. Johnson’s conversion put the Warriors out to 20-8.

Kenny-Dowall grabbed his second, from a Jake Friend kick, just before half-time for a scoreline of 20-14 at the break. Sio Siua Taukeiaho forced his way over for the Roosters to bring the score to 20-all in the 52nd minute.

Mitchell Aubusson then broke the Warriors’ line and raced 50m to put the home side ahead 26-20 three minutes later before Kata crossed out wide soon after on the back of a Roosters dropped ball from the re-start.

A Hastings penalty goal inched the Roosters ahead in the 64th minute before Johnson replied with another penalty with six minutes remaining. Both sides missed shots at field goal in the final five minutes before the game moved into extra-time.

Bryce Cartwright scored a late, winning try to give the Panthers victory over the Eels at Pirtek Stadium.

In the later kick-off, a Bryce Cartwright try after the siren gave Penrith a dramatic 20-18 win over neighbouring rivals Parramatta. Cartwright dummied his way over for his second try after receiving a ball from Waqa Blake, who soared to take a wobbly crossfield kick from Jamie Soward in the 80th minute.

Aided by a crucial bunker overturn at a scrum late in the game, Josh Mansour had crossed to score a try in the 76th minute, bringing the Panthers within two points, however Soward’s conversion sailed wide.

At that point the Panthers appeared headed for their fourth defeat by eight points or less. However the visitors surged upfield at Pirtek Stadium, Cartwright finishing off Soward’ hail Mary kick at the death to stun the 15,600 crowd and celebrate captain Matt Moylan’s return after a year out with injury.

Earlier, both sides were denied tries in a close first half. It was Eels prop Junior Paulo who was the unlikely source of first points, crashing over from close range in the 23rd minute.

The Eels then appeared headed for another first half shutout of their opposition until Cartwright wrestled his way over to level the scores at six-all at the break. His try ended a 197-minute defensive stand where the Eels conceded just one try.

Penrith hooker Peter Wallace gave his team the lead with a sneaky try from close range in the 43rd minute, only for former Panther Michael Gordon to level the scores in the 64th.

Hosts Parramatta then surged to the lead in the next set when Isaac De Gois finished off a 50-metre movement that included a chip from Clinton Gutherson.

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Roosters May Strip Skipper Pearce Role

The Sydney Roosters have stood down skipper Mitchell Pearce after he was filmed simulating a lewd act with a dog during drunken Australia Day celebrations.

“The club wishes to advise that Mitchell Pearce has been stood down from all training commitments until the club concludes its internal investigation,” the statement said.

“The club continues to work closely with the NRL Integrity Unit and will be making no further comment at this time.”

The club may also strip Pearce of his captaincy, fine him up to $50,000 and ban him from taking part in the World Club Challenge in England next month, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The Roosters announced on Wednesday night they would conduct an internal investigation while the NRL awaited a report from the Roosters into the incident.

“The Integrity Unit will work with the Roosters to ensure the matter is dealt with appropriately,” read the NRL statement.

The RPSCA has also said it will investigate the incident.

“RSPCA NSW is appalled by footage showing NRL player Mitchell Pearce engaging in a lewd act with a dog,” it tweeted on Thursday.

Video footage of the incident was aired by the Nine Network’s A Current Affair on Wednesday night. It shows a clearly intoxicated Pearce trying to kiss a woman before simulating a sex act on a dog and being accused of urinating on himself and furniture after the woman had rejected his advances.

Earlier in the day Pearce had posted Instagram photos of himself and Roosters teammates embarking on a Sydney harbour cruise following an early morning training session on the public holiday.

Pearce is no stranger to controversy having been fined $20,000 and suspended after an incident in which he was ejected from a Sydney nightclub.

Former NRL bad boy Mark Geyer has called for Mitchell Pearce to be given a 12-month NRL ban and said the player needs help.

“He needs to be suspended for 12 months, get a real job away from football and undergo both counselling and rehab,” Geyer told Triple M on Thursday.

“He needs to be taken out of the system that he joined as a kid to appreciate what he’s got.

“He is obviously powerless when affected by alcohol and cannot control his behaviour.

“Pearce needs help and needs to be as far away from footy as possible.”

Former Newcastle and Cronulla star Matthew Johns, who was embroiled in a 2002 group sex scandal in New Zealand, agreed with Geyer and said Pearce’s on-field achievements would now be overshadowed.

“The most difficult thing for Mitchell is the fact that what it does to your loved ones, the embarrassment it causes your loved ones,” Johns said.

Former Roosters forward Jimmy Smith said he believed the club was left with no choice but to sack Pearce.

“To be honest it’s not the crime of the century. In saying that, as a captain of an NRL club it is completely unacceptable,” he told Fox Sports News.

“As a result of that I think the Roosters are left with very little option.”

The Rugby League Players’ Association (RLPA) issued a statement on Wednesday night saying it was not appropriate to comment on the circumstances of the case without knowing all the facts but it would provide Pearce with “appropriate well-being support as needed”.

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Blacks Sony Bill in NRL 2013 Return

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All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams will return to the NRL in 2013 after a stint playing Japanese club rugby.

The 26-year-old dual international told reporters in Hamilton on Monday he would play rugby league in 2013 but refused to elaborate on who he will be playing for.

Williams, who is believed to be joining Sydney Roosters next year, says he had a "handshake agreement" in place for the 2013 NRL season but nothing had been signed.

He will join the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan later this year and will not return to New Zealand rugby after his five-month stint is over.

Japan's Top League season begins on August 31, running until the end of January, and it has been estimated he will earn as much as $1.7 million for his time in Japan.

The timing of the Japanese season will allow Williams to make a return to rugby league in 2013.

All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he was hopeful Williams would again play Test rugby for New Zealand and NZRU chief executive Steve Tew noted that he had not ruled out a return in the future.

Hansen said that while Williams has only been in New Zealand rugby for two seasons his contribution had been immense.

"He came to New Zealand rugby two years ago as a convert player and was similar to Brad Thorn in that regard," Hansen said in a press release.

"Sonny had high level slills and freakish abilities without a fully developed game.

"This season we have seen the birth of Sonny as a rugby player with his game understanding complementing his array of skills.

"His performance in the Test series against Ireland showed that he was world class.

"It is a shame and disappointing that New Zealand Rugby is losing him.

"In talking to him I know the decision has been a tough one but we fully respect why he hs made this decision.

"He is an outstanding athlete who has stamped his mark on the game and hopefully this is not the last time we see him in New Zealand Rugby."

Hansen also praised Williams's manager Khoder Nasser for the way negotiations had been handled.

"Khoder has been nothing but straight up in his dealings with myself and the NZRU and kept us informed right from day one," he said.

"We may not always have agreed but we appreciated his honesty and his transparency."

Will you be happy to see Sonny Bill come back to the NRL? Have your say now.

Williams controversially walked out on his NRL team Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in 2008, just 18 months into a five-year deal to join French rugby club Toulon.

He was part of last year's Rugby World Cup-winning All Blacks team, and showed commanding form in the three-Test series against Ireland last month.

Williams, who is nearing the end of a one-year deal with Super Rugby franchise the Chiefs, is also expected to continue his professional boxing career.