Final disappointing loss the story of Warriors’ season
AUCKLAND: Just when you thought you had seen it all from the Warriors in 2022, there was another souldestroying final chapter on Saturday.
The Auckland team was beaten 2726 by the Gold Coast Titans in golden point, with Titans halfback Tanah Boyd converting a 30m field goal in the 83rd minute.
Given the circumstances, it was one of the most disappointing defeats of the season, as the Warriors lost from a seemingly imperious position.
They looked to have the game in the bag, holding a 14point advantage with only eight minutes to play.
But they collectively seemed to clock off, and the Titans took advantage with two quickfire tries, before Boyd levelled the scores with a 79thminute penalty.
Both teams had field goal attempts charged down in the extra time period, but a Warriors mistake near halfway gave the Titans the initiative and Boyd made no mistake.
This wasn’t the script, on old boys day and in front of a vocal 20,512 crowd, against a Titans side that had nothing to play for.
But the finale again showed the Warriors’ soft underbelly and the result will linger through the offseason.
It also shows the massive assignment ahead for new coach Andrew Webster, who needs to restore pride and belief.
Such an scenario seemed unlikely in the first half, as the Warriors made a perfect start with three tries in the opening 14 minutes and led 206 at halftime.
First, Jesse Arthars crossed off a precise Reece Walsh pass, after Eliesa Katoa had split the Titans defence.
The second try was more fortunate, after the Titans couldn’t deal with a Daejarn Asi bomb, but Walsh deserved credit for his delightful inside flick pass to Josh Curran.
The Warriors kept coming and Dallin WateneZelezniak did well to scoop up a Chanel HarrisTavita pass on the bounce, before an acrobatic finish near the corner flag.
Prop Addin FonuaBlake was held up over the line, before AJ Brimson responded for the Titans, beating three ineffectual tackles.
But the Warriors had the final firsthalf say, as Curran showed his hunger to beat Brimson to a loose ball in the in goal, after the Titans couldn’t clean up a kick.
The home side had dominated possession but suffered its trademark thirdquarter wobbles, gifting a try to the Titans, after an attempted short goalline dropout went wrong and Beau Fermor had an unimpeded run to score.
They withstood spells of pressure, before Viliami Vailea sprinted 60m to dot down under the posts in the 52nd minute.
The Warriors looked to be safe, but completely switched off in the last 10 minutes, to their detriment as the Titans scored two opportunist tries, setting up the nervy finale.