NRL: Beastly errors mar record

Manu Vatuvei's mistake allowed the Titans to score a vital try. Photo / Getty Images

The satisfaction of Manu Vatuvei's record-breaking try for the Warriors will always be tinged with disappointment.

It was scored in a loss to the Titans that put the Warriors at risk of a first week playoffs exit.

Vatuvei now has 78 tries for the club in 113 appearances, eclipsing Stacey Jones' record set in 261 matches.

At least it was scored using one of his traditional fail-safe methods: a bullocking run up the left flank that left a trail of defenders clinging to various limbs as he impersonated a tank.

It is easy to get carried away with try-scoring feats at the expense of a team that creates them, but it is hard to argue anyone but Vatuvei could have scored many of his without that famed power and pace.

With a try in the final round of the regular season, he equalled Sean Hoppe's record of 19 set in 1995. He is now three tries short of Francis Meli's 2003 record of 23 tries in a season once playoffs are included.

Vatuvei acknowledges that any euphoria is tainted.

"It was great to get the record," he said. "It is something I have to do for the team. But I made a few errors out there, throwing bad offloads. You can't do that against teams like the Titans."

So it proved. The Titans targeted Vatuvei on defence at times, notably with a Scott Prince kick that saw the winger contest the ball, only for it to pop back into the arms of a waiting Clinton Toopi.

The Warriors got back in touch 24-16 after a strong third quarter, but then Vatuvei forced a pass that bobbled into touch 20m from the Warriors' line and the Titans capitalised with a final try to Kevin Gordon.

Even coach Ivan Cleary could not hide his disappointment.

"It's hard to criticise Manu, but it was a big error. We'd come back into the match and then they scored again. That was crucial."

However, Vatuvei's role in giving the Warriors some parity with the Titans can't be underestimated. He made 153 metres, equal with Lance Hohaia as the most of any Warrior on the field, and notched up 10 tackle breaks.

But Vatuvei has a reputation to uphold these days as a marquee player. Every time he touched the ball, the crowd noise rose several decibels. It reached a crescendo when he hit Scott Prince flush midway through the first half and bounced him off like a bulldozer hitting a beach ball.

Prince, who had a painkilling injection for his injured shoulder pre-match, exacted his revenge with that pinpoint kick four minutes later.