Reigning premiers survive ‘toughest game of the year’

The Warriors themselves had their chances to cause an upset for the second week in a row, but errors of their own – as well as two late sin-bins – sapped them of energy.

But it was for a number of massive hits – including hits from Edward Kosi on Stephen Crichton, and then Crichton on Dylan Walker – the game will be remembered.

“Mate, that was the hardest game of the year I reckon,” Cleary told Fox Sports after the match.

“That’s a massive respect to the Warriors, what they’ve been able to build and what Webby’s [Warriors coach Andrew Webster] been able to build over there because they weren’t going away.

“They kept showing up – even when we thought they were tired, they kept being there. Yeah … bloody tough.”

Jackson Ford became the first player sin binned in this Magic Round for a hip drop tackle on Spencer Leniu, who was playing his first match back after a calf injury.

Later, Demitric Sifakula was also sent for a 10-minute spell for making what referee Todd Smith described a “striking motion” on Cleary.

The NSW No.7 had put another big hit on Josh Curran, which saw a minor scuffle in the middle. Sifakula came in from back play to essentially push Cleary’s neck.

But despite the bruising nature of the clash, Cleary said those were his favourite games to play.

NRL Highlights: Warriors v Panthers – Round 10

“Those are the fun games – that’s what footy’s all about,” he said.

“I think that entertains the crowd too. People just, you know, wear their hearts on their sleeve and play tough footy.

“To be honest, I wasn’t really doing that in the first half, so I need to find something.

“And [I’ll] try and stay out of those scuffles because I can’t throw them.”

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