5.50pm
The New Zealand Warriors took a huge step up in National Rugby League (NRL) credibility in Auckland this afternoon, but not before giving the capacity Ericsson Stadium crowd something to worry about.
In dry, cloudy conditions this year's minor premiers beat Canberra 36-20, scoring six tries to four, for the Warriors' first win in a finals round match.
After going out to a two-try lead with clever attacking and aggressive defence, the Warriors appeared to lose some concentration in the last 10 minutes of the first half and Canberra came back with two tries of their own.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the second minute after hooker PJ Marsh made an incisive run up the middle of the field.
From the play-the-ball about 20m out Stacey Jones did a small lateral kick off the side of his boot. Centre John Carlaw caught the ball in a gap and his momentum carried him over the line after being tackled.
Six minutes later the banana kick move almost worked again but this time Carlaw lost the ball as he went over in the tackle.
Wing Henry Fa'afili scored the Warriors' second try, going over low in a tackle in the right corner, in the 13th minute after the home team moved the ball wide from a penalty close to the line.
Canberra scored their first try eight minutes from the break, after they rampaged upfield from a Warriors' mistake made while hot on attack.
Centre Joel Monaghan went over in the righthand corner after the Raiders moved the ball left and right as they attacked the Warriors line, compressing the defence.
His brother, five-eighth Michael Monaghan scored five minutes later and suddenly a Warriors' win was looking uncertain.
The Warriors came out after halftime revitalised, and even willing to chance their arm, throwing risky passes while hard on defence.
In the ninth minute of the second half the inspirational Jones made a jinking run near the line, opening a gap for Ali Lauiti'iti to score
The powerful second-rower had been on the field for only a minute and was playing his first match since injuring a knee three weeks ago.
Seven minutes later Jones scored himself after a superb individual run, first finding a gap and then spinning out of a tackle.
By this stage the Warriors were playing furiously and Canberra appeared to be on the rack. As Warriors' wing Francis Meli scored at the start of the third quarter the home side were celebrating, and the crowd were dancing.
- NZPA
Rugby League: Second half revival propels Warriors to big win
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