Warriors go top by beating ‘not real smart’ Bunnies
George Clarke |
Rookie Luke Hanson has booted a field goal to give the Warriors a 45-26 win over South Sydney that sent the Kiwi outfit to the top of the NRL ladder by the barest of margins.
With hooker Wayde Egan pulling all the strings at Accor Stadium, Andrew Webster’s side joined Penrith and the Sydney Roosters on 38 points with a 19-point victory.
The win – the first by the scoreline in premiership history – helps the Warriors (+295) move past the Panthers (+294) on points differential after Hanson nudged a one-point goal from 30m out on the buzzer in just his second NRL game.
The third-placed Roosters (+163) have a game in hand and will play Wests Tigers on Sunday.
“As a team we weren’t saying let’s go kick a field goal because we need to,” Webster said.
“We said every point’s going to matter from here to the end.
“Once we kicked it we knew as staff, but I don’t know if the players knew – you’d have to ask Luke, he’s a pretty smart guy.”
The Warriors host Newcastle and Manly over the final two rounds, while Penrith face Canterbury and Wests Tigers.
After Sunday’s meeting with the Tigers, the Roosters square off with the Dolphins and Souths to round out their regular season.
“It might not be for too long and you only want to be on top at the end,” Webster said.
“That’s why we didn’t mention for and against between now and then – we could win all our games and it could look different at the end.”
While Webster’s side bolstered their chances of a first minor premiership in club history, and the chance to have a home final in week one, Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was left frustrated.
A win would have locked up a top-eight finish for Bennett’s Bunnies, who must now beat Gold Coast or the Roosters in their last two fixtures to qualify for the finals.
“What’s between their ears? We’re not real smart at different times out there,” said Bennett, who all but confirmed Latrell Mitchell would return against the Titans.
“I’m talking about the game generally – a lot of things put us under pressure, but I’m never disappointed in the effort.”
The Warriors raced into a 26-8 halftime lead with tries from James Fisher-Harris, Leka Halasima, Mitchell Barnett and Chanel Harris-Tavita.
Taine Tuaupiki kicked all four goals and also added a penalty as Jayden Sullivan failed to convert both of the Bunnies’ first-half tries which came courtesy of Jack Wighton and Alex Johnston.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak pushed the Warriors further ahead in the 45th minute, before going off with a suspected shoulder injury.
Souths seized on the opportunity with Johnston, Cody Walker and Tallis Duncan all crossing in a 12-minute onslaught.
Each try was converted by Sullivan to cut the Warriors’ lead to just six points with 20 minutes left.
But Jacob Laban and Alofiana Khan-Pereira went over to move the Warriors 18 points clear, with Hanson then kicking the difference-making field goal late on to send Webster’s men top.
AAP