Warriors snatch victory from jaws of defeat
AUCKLAND: Icecool 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 on Saturday.
The Warriors were down 136 at halftime and trailed 1912 deep into the second half before a converted try by hooker Issac Luke enabled them to roar back within one point of the home side with three minutes remaining on the clock.
Johnson then stepped up to deliver twice for his side with replica field goals stealing victory from the jaws of defeat and giving the visitors three wins to start a campaign for the first time in the club’s history.
The result was their second away win after their round 1 triumph over Souths in Perth and the previous week’s home victory over the Titans, while the luckless Raiders remain winless to start their campaign after consecutive 3028 defeats to the Titans and Knights over the past fortnight.
The win also ends the Warriors’ fourgame 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 to claim a hardfought win when they looked well below their best for the majority 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.’’
The Warriors were forced to defend for long periods, captain Roger TuivasaSheck 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 frontrower Adam Blair was sinbinned on the sixth occasion before the Raiders scored two quick tries to hooker Siliva Havili and secondrower Elliot Whitehead for a 120 lead after 10 minutes.
But poor goalline defence from the Raiders saw the Warriors strike back on their first attacking foray 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 it 13 points clear, but the Warriors came back again with secondrower Tohu Harris scoring their second to help narrow the margin.
Their winning run looked certain to end before Luke darted from close range to set up a grandstand finish and they showed the tenacity and belief to clinch the result after all hope looked lost.
TuivasaSheck said the gutsy nature of the win put it among the most memorable of his career.
‘‘This is up there. Emotionally just having everything against us and the boys digging deep to fight back,’’ he said.
The Warriors will look to continue to their winning and claim a third away victory when they meet the Roosters in Sydney next Saturday, before hosting consecutive home games against the Cowboys and Broncos.