NZ Warriors star Jazz Tevaga has pulled no punches in his emotional post-match analysis of yet another error-ridden NRL loss.
The Auckland side - based at Redcliffe this season, during another COVID-affected season stranded across the Tasman - suffered their fourth straight loss, 26-18 to Newcastle Knights, after leading 12-0 early and 16-12 soon after halftime.
Their defeat could be traced directly back to a series of basic mistakes that cost them dearly and Tevaga, who celebrated his 100th appearance for the club last week, could not contain his frustration afterwards, dropping several f-bombs in his post-match interview with Sky Sport.
"It's been the story of our season, really... concentration errors and it compounds," he complained. "Next minute, we're on our line under the posts.
"It's frustrating, bro, it's f***ing frustrating."
Among the mistakes that let the side down were both halves Shaun Johnson and Chanel Harris-Tavita kicking out on the full at the end of sets, fullback Reece Walsh kicking dead from a restart, Harris-Tavita dropping a kickoff on his own goal-line, forward Jack Murchie spilling the ball in a tackle in similar position and winger Marcelo Montoya sent to the sin-bin for a high tackle, as his team tried to mount a comeback.
Passionate Tevaga, who left the field for a concussion check in the closing minutes, did not spare his teammates from his disappointment.
"I'm not putting blame on anyone, we have to defend our errors," he told Sky. "But two of our halves kicked the ball out on the full, Reecey kicks it off on the full, Murchie dropped the ball... they're just concentration errors.
"We can take the ones where we're playing footy and having a crack at them, but those ones are just not good enough... f***!"
The performance came during NRL Indigenous Round, where players celebrate the cultural diversity throughout their competition. Each team are wearing specially designed jerseys for this week's games, but Tevaga, 26, found little comfort in the occasion.
As a club, the Warriors have produced many, many jersey designs over the years...
"It's a special jersey we've got on," observed Tevaga. "But you know, we've got more jerseys than trophies."
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