Warriors fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad says he immediately regretted the collision which resulted in Reuben Garrick suffering a back injury on Friday night.
Nicoll-Klokstad made contact with Garrick while the Manly No.1 was jumping to claim a bouncing ball in the 72nd minute of the match, which the Warriors won 29-22 in Auckland, and knew right away that his opposite number was hurt.
“I sort of regretted it straight away just because of the severity of how he (Garrick) was,” Nicoll-Klokstad said.
“I didn’t really think he was going to jump up and I didn’t think the ball was going to bounce up that high.
“I went over to him straight away and he was OK with that, I went up and apologised and he said ‘all good, that’s just something that happens’.
If I find myself in that position [again], next time I will have to do a little bit better to make sure the player on the other side is a bit more looked after.
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
While Garrick finished the match, coach Anthony Seibold said he was unable to run from that point on, with the 26-year-old clearly struggling on the play minutes later which saw Marata Niukore run 35 metres to seal the Warriors’ sixth win on the trot.
Marata Niukore try 72nd minute
Seibold, who said ultimately his side weren’t good enough to get the result and conceded their finals hopes are now over, agreed that the ball was bouncing and therefore a penalty for a mid-air tackle couldn’t be called, but felt Garrick had been placed in a dangerous position.
“I understand the rule about the kick, it wasn’t from a kick, I get it and that is right, but it’s a dangerous tackle,” Seibold said.
“He’s hurt his back, he couldn’t run [afterwards].
“We scored 22 points against a good defensive team in a half of footy so that should have been enough points for us, unfortunately a few things didn’t go our way.
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"We put a little bit of pressure on ourselves in the second half and the New Zealand team are a good side, so they were able to capitalise on any errors or penalties.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the boys, they fought hard, but ultimately we weren’t good enough. The growth for us is to handle some of those decisions.
“We can’t make it now, so of course we are frustrated because we fought really hard this season and ultimately we haven’t been good enough to make the playoffs again."
The Sea Eagles will now wait to see how Garrick pulls up ahead of facing the Bulldogs in Round 26, with Ben Trbojevic and Brad Parker expected back from head knocks and winger Christian Tuipulotu a chance of returning from a knee injury.