Greatest comeback in Warriors’ history
Ice cool Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson kicked two field goals in the last three minutes to give his side a historic third-straight season opening NRL win over the Raiders in Canberra yesterday.
The visitors trailed 13-6 at halftime and were down 19-12 deep in the second half before a try to hooker Issac Luke and Johnson’s third conversion saw them roar back within one point of the home side at GIO Stadium.
The Kiwis test No 7 then stepped up to deliver twice for his side with twin field goals giving the visitors a three-win start to the season for the first time in the club’s history.
The result was the Auckland side’s second away victory of 2018 following their round one triumph over Souths in Perth and last week’s home victory over the Titans, while the luckless Raiders remain winless following consecutive 30-28 defeats to the Titans and Knights.
The three-tries-all affair ends the Warriors’ four-game losing run against Canberra and gives them just their fourth win in 16 visits to the Australian capital.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney was pleased with his side’s character despite looking well below their best for most of the game.
“We didn’t play particularly well and didn’t give ourselves the best start but I still liked the effort and energy,” Kearney said.
“They showed a tremendous amount of courage not to let the game get too far away from them and
give themselves an opportunity with three minutes to go. We’re going to enjoy the win. It’s a special victory for the club and to come back like that to make it three in a row is good.”
The Warriors were forced to defend for long periods, with captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck saving two tries and Luke preventing a third, but a lack of patience and poor execution meant they failed to capitalise on scoring chances.
Five penalties in the opening minutes put them under pressure and front rower Adam Blair was sin-binned on the sixth occasion before the Raiders scored two quick tries for a 12-0 lead after 10 minutes.
But poor goal line defence from the Raiders saw the Warriors strike back through centre Peta Hiku, before Canberra No 7 Sam Williams kicked a field goal just before the break.
Left wing Nick Cotric got Canberra’s third try soon after the resumption and captain Jarrod Croker kicked a penalty to put them 13 points clear, but the Warriors came back again, with second rower Tohu Harris scoring their second.
Their winning run looked certain to end before Luke darted from close range to set up a grandstand finish.
Tuivasa-Sheck said the gutsy nature of the win put it among the most memorable of his career.
“To come back and finish right at the end is massive for me and the team, the way we can fight through these games to get the win.”
The Warriors face the Roosters in Sydney on Saturday, before hosting the Cowboys and Broncos.
Warriors 20 (P. Hiku, T. Harris, I. Luke tries; S. Johnson 3 cons, 2 field goals) Raiders 19 (S. Havili, E. Whitehead, N. Cotric tries; J. Croker 3 cons, pen, S. Williams field goal). Halftime: Canberra 13-6.