Warriors nudging top eight

THE New Zealand Warriors have kept up their push for a place in the NRL top eight with a hard-fought 21-14 win over Canterbury at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland last night.

It took a Shaun Johnson field goal in the 69th minute to give the home side some breathing space.

A dart from dummy-half by skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck six minutes from time and Johnson’s conversion virtually sealed victory.

The result keeps the Warriors — who had started the round in 11th place, one place ahead of the Bulldogs — within touching distance of the top eight. But it was tempered by injury to hooker Issac Luke, who dislocated his shoulder in the 33rd minute. NZ WARRIORS 21 (B Ayshford, K Maumalo, R Tuivasa-Sheck tries, S Johnson 4 goals, S Johnson field goal) d CANTERBURY 14 (R Faitala-Mariner, K Holland tries, K Holland 3 goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Crowd: 13,476.