Kiwi star Johnson puts boot into Raiders
THE notoriously inconsistent Warriors have won their opening three games for the first time in their history, with Shaun Johnson stunning Canberra by scoring two field goals in the dying minutes to win 20-19.
Down by seven points with four minutes to go at GIO Stadium yesterday, Issac Luke crossed for the New Zealand team’s third converted try, before Johnson’s kicking heroics broke Raiders hearts.
The 27-year-old looked to have sent the game into golden point when he slotted a field goal with less than two minutes to go.
But Johnson wasn’t done there, getting the ball again with 40 seconds left and sending it just over the post for a fa- mous win. The undefeated start to the season gives Stephen Kearney’s men an opportunity to break a finals drought dating back to the losing 2011 grand final.
Kearney paid tribute to the resilience of his side to stay in the game despite conceding a number of early penalties.
“Everything was against us so to come out the other end with two points is very special NZ WARRIORS Tries: Goals: Field goals: CANBERRA Tries: Goals: Field goals: and it’s right up there (as one of his best wins),” Kearney said after the game.
After being on the losing end of 30-28 scorelines in the first two rounds, it was all the Raiders early, with Siliva Havili and Elliott Whitehead scoring.
The Warriors scored through Peta Hiku but Sam Williams ensured the Raiders led 13-6 at half-time when he slotted a field goal. Nick Cotric barged over early in the second half to put the Raiders up 17-6.
Tohu Harris then crossed in the corner for the Warriors after 59 minutes to give them a sniff and they kept charging from there.
A shattered Raiders coach Ricky Stuart said his team had to unite. “We were the best team on the day and got beaten,” Stuart said.