For the third time in as many pre-season trials, the Warriors conceded several tries and then rallied to come home strongly as they beat the Bulldogs 24-20.
The spectre of punishment for salary cap breaches threw a cloud over the game at Cararra on the Gold Coast, but the turnout
of 12,840 will hearten the NRL, its management and the Warriors.
Coach Ivan Cleary said he was pleased with the way they came home and the character they had shown to play better second halves in all three games. But they had to fix their execution, he said.
The Warriors were down 22-0 to Canberra in their first game before they came back to finish 28-16; North Queensland were up 20-0 before a comeback made it 26-10; and on Saturday night the Bulldogs led 20-0 before the Warriors scored in the 33rd minute for a 20-6 gap at the break and then held the Dogs scoreless for 40 minutes.
Dogs centre Willie Tonga made a good return after being plagued by knee trouble last season and scored after four minutes. He then set up a try for wing Namila Davui and he and Davui both touched down again before the Dogs spilled a bomb and Nathan Fien got over for the Warriors.
Ruben Wiki scored five minutes into the second 40 and Tony Martin got across and converted all three tries to close the gap to 20-18.
With two minutes to go, Jerome Ropati pounced on another spilled ball for the win.
