Latest Warriors NRL loss leave Afoa flat

Aug 27, 2017 - 7:35 PM Young forward Bunty Afoa trudged off Mt Smart Stadium with added disappointment after the Warriors' agonising 22-21 golden point NRL defeat to Manly.

The Warriors were already out of finals reckoning for a sixth season in a row, but Sunday's match, the last of the year at home, was a chance to farewell players leaving the Auckland club.

They include Kiwis prop Ben Matulino, who is heading for Wests Tigers after 10 seasons with the Warriors.

Afoa, 21, had hoped he could have been part of a winning send-off for Matulino and the others.

"I feel for the guys that are leaving," he said.

"I looked up to Benny Mats and to see him leave, and to leave on that note, it's pretty sad.

"I wish them all the best in the future wherever they go, but it's just mixed emotions at the moment."

As well as Matulino, Ryan Hoffman, Kieran Foran and Charlie Gubb are also departing, while injured prop Jacob Lillyman's future is in doubt beyond this year.

The defeat was the Warriors eighth in a row, equalling their record for a single season.

They had looked like pulling off an upset when leading 21-14 with seven minutes to go, but they couldn't hold on and they weren't helped by mistakes.

"It's just execution that let us down," Afoa said.

"Everyone did their job out there. It was just those moments where under fatigue we pull up a mistake"

The Warriors close their season away to the Tigers, who also have just pride to play for.

But Afoa is adamant the Warriors won't be clocking off.

"We all understand we have one more game," he said.

"For us, it's the West Tigers and we have to prepare well. We're aiming for those two points."

Source: AAP