While they were held scoreless for the entire second half the One New Zealand Warriors hung in stoutly with a resolute defensive display to nail a club record eighth consecutive win today.
Avenging their sixth-round loss to the Newtown Jets in Auckland – their only defeat this season – the Warriors beat the defending premiers 22-16 at Henson Park in Sydney to take outright ownership of the record for the club’s most wins on end in the competition.
Last week’s victory over the Rabbitohs levelled them up at seven, a mark first achieved by the club’s 2016 NSW Cup side.
To make it eight the Warriors had to dig deep to find a way in a contest they were ahead in for most of the journey without being able to break clear.
They had some lineup changes to absorb losing regulars Sam Healey and Tanner Stowers-Smith to the NRL squad as well as Taine Tuaupiki who was originally named to start at fullback.
Match: Jets v Warriors
Round 14 -
home Team
Jets
5th Position
away Team
Warriors
1st Position
Venue: Henson Park, Sydney
The early exchanges favoured the Jets with loose forward Hohepa Puru coasting through a gaping hole in the defensive line for the opening try in the fifth minute.
The Warriors then moved into their more typical mode with three tries in quick succession.
Coming in against the grain, centre Moala Graham-Taufa jetted onto a Tanah Boyd short ball to score his 11th try of the season in the 11th minute, Boyd levelling it up 6-6.
Five minutes later Boyd was the provider again, punching a grubber through the line for impressive second rower Kayliss Fatialofa to grab his 10th try of the campaign.
A 10-6 lead became 16-6 in the 23rd minute, a powerful surge from Kalani Going taking the Warriors close before hooker Freddy Lussick popped up a pass from dummy half for second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava to steam over.
A second Newtown try close to halftime had the margin back to 12-16 but the Warriors came up with the critical play of the game with just seconds left in the half.
After left winger Edward Kosi was stopped just short of the corner, Luke Hanson stabbed an angled grubber towards Newtown’s in-goal area. It wasn’t mopped up. went loose and Hanson pounced for a try which helped the Warriors to a 22-12 lead at the break.
They pushed for more throughout the second half without being able to add further points as the Jets hung on. Similarly the Jets couldn’t make any headway against the Warriors’ tenacious defence.
With three minutes to go Newtown added the only points of the half to provide a glimmer of hope but the Warriors closed it out without undue fuss.
Now on 26 points, three clear of the Dragons, the Warriors are back on the road for the third straight week against the third-placed Eels next Saturday.
