The Warriors overcame an early injury blow to secure a 20-12 win over the Knights with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck starring in his return to the No.1 jersey.

Tuivasa-Sheck shifted to fullback this week due to injuries to Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki and did not disappoint.

The cross-code star, who last wore the Warriors’ No.1 jersey in 2021, topped the run metres with 278 and pulled out his signature step a couple of times.

It was just what the Warriors needed after losing speedy five-eighth Luke Metcalf in the opening 10 minutes. Metcalf was wiped out after a Tyson Frizell tackle left him nursing a lower leg injury.

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But that didn’t worry the Warriors too much as they went on to score two tries in three minutes — with the second to Metcalf’s replacement Chanel Harris-Tavita.

The Knights needed to get on the board before half time and they did exactly that through Frizell, who scooped up a Tyson Gamble grubber to score.

However the momentum swung again in the opening minutes of the second half when Harris-Tavita put up a pinpoint cross-field kick for Marcelo Montoya to score.

The Knights fought back late in the game with Kalyn Ponga and Bradman Best combining but it was too little, too late.

WHAT WE LEARNED….

RTS WINS FULLBACK BATTLE

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was a clear winner in the mouthwatering fullback battle with Kalyn Ponga at Go Media Stadium.

With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki unavailable due to injury, Warriors coach Andrew Webster turned to Tuivasa-Sheck… and the cross-code international did not disappoint.

Tuivasa-Sheck played 33 minutes at fullback last week when Tuaupiki left the field but this was his first time starting there since he left the club in 2021 to chase a rugby union dream.

Fox League commentator Andrew Voss referred to the fullback battle as “one for the ages” and it certainlt was in the first half.

Tuivasa-Sheck made a try-saving tackle on Enari Tuala and not long after ran through Tyson Frizell’s tackle attempt.

Ponga responded with his own brilliance when he beat four defenders and made 40 metres in his kick return.

And then it was over to Tuivasa-Sheck again as he put a vintage step on Mat Croker and then bumped off Adam Elliott.

The Warriors’ superstar outshone his opposing No.1 in the second half and was declared by expert analyst Corey Parker as the “best on field.”

Tuivasa-Sheck finished with 23 runs for 278 metres, seven tackle busts and two offloads.

“He’s been awesome, but we expected nothing less. Last week he ignited their attack when he went back to fullback. He’s been brilliant,” Michael Ennis said.

Other than a grubber to set up a late try, Ponga was “barely seen” in the second half according to Greg Alexander.

But it was a play in the final five minutes that cemented Tuivasa-Sheck’s victory in the battle.

Ponga began to fire for the Knights when he produced a bullet pass to Enari Tuala, who found Ponga on his inside after a break. The Knights fullback tried to get rid of the ball again to set up a try, but Tuivasa-Sheck was there to knock it down.

EGAN HAS ‘INSTANT IMPACT’ IN RETURN

Workhorse hooker Wayde Egan was a welcome return for the Warriors with star halfback Shaun Johnson saying pre-game he’s a “key part of our attack” and that was evident in the win.

Egan missed two weeks with an elbow injury but as Corey Parker said “made an immediate impact” in his return.

The 27-year-old set up the Warriors’ second try when he took a run out of dummy-half and passed to Chanel Harris-Tavita.

Along with a try assist, Egan finished with a linebreak, two tackle busts, 65 running metres and 36 tackles — no misses.

“He’s been brilliant,” Michael Ennis said.

“He kept them arrow straight, they really didn’t venture outside the scrum lines. He was out testing the markers, out threatening and he came up with a wonderful linebreak that led to a try.

“And his work through the middle, his creativity and subtlety was really causing Newcastle a lot of head aches.”

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