Just when all hope appears lost, the New Zealand Warriors turn around and do something special.
There had been little to suggest they might upset Canterbury at Wellington's Westpac Stadium on Saturday night. But we should know by now that those are circumstances in which the Warriors are often most dangerous.
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Warriors hold on to win against Bulldogs
The Warriors overcome the loss of star fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to injury and a halftime deficit to register a 24-20 win over Canterbury, their first success against the Bulldogs in Wellington.
The Bulldogs were tremendously disappointing, but that shouldn't detract from the Warriors' deserved 24-20 win.
An overall lack of quality meant the game ebbed and flowed, but the right team definitely won.
It was all Warriors early, thanks to props Ben Matulino and Sam Lisone. The pair were very hard for the Bulldogs to get to ground and their quick play-the-balls created space for others such as Shaun Johnson, Bodene Thompson and Solomone Kata.
Kata might've had a couple of tries within minutes of kick-off.Â
The first, after four minutes, was incorrectly called back for a Roger Tuivasa-Sheck forward pass, with the second dislodged by a Bulldogs defender after 21 minutes.
It was left to right wing David Fusitu'a, after a Lisone pass at the line and Johnson cut-out ball, to finally open the scoring in the 11th minute. From the kickoff, the man inside him — right centre Blake Ayshford — bagged himself a try as well.
Thompson created that one, after producing the offload that saw Johnson take off down the right flank.Â
No-one really noticed that  Tuivasa-Sheck was, again, receiving treatment in backplay. He'd twisted awkwardly in an earlier Kerrod Holland tackle, injuring his left knee.
Off he went, which signalled the end of the Tuimoala Lolohea five-eighth experiment. He had to fill in at fullback instead, with Thomas Leuluai moving into the halves.
Once Kata was denied a try for a second time, the game made one of its many momentum shifts.
The Bulldogs had left usual starting props James Graham and Aiden Tolman on the bench. It was a curious move, but the introduction of captain Graham and Sam Kasiano certainly had the desired effect.
From 8-0 down, the Dogs were 10-8 up, courtesy of two Sam Perrett tries down the Warriors' left edge. Perrett went on to set up Holland just before half-time, as the "home" side's lead went out to 14-8.
The ball-playing of fullback Will Hopoate was a real feature, along with the defensive fragility of Kata and left wing Jonathan Wright. Almost all the Bulldogs' attack was coming down their left edge and the points proved why. Fair play to Wright and company, though, who soon returned the favour. First Wright outleapt the Bulldogs defence to claim a beautiful Johnson crosskick and score, then Lolohea barged his way over from dummy-half.
Johnson kicked his first conversion of the night and the Warriors led 18-14, with half an hour to play. The Bulldogs looked to launch a response, without success. Their last-play options and execution in general was a little poor and, having earned some field position, were unable to turn it into points.
Instead the Warriors marched downfield and went in again, through Ayshford. Johnson converted from touch and, at 24-14, it appeared the match-winning advantage had been secured. A late Holland try set up the potential for a grandstand finish, but the Warriors were able to hang on.
Fairfax NZ
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