NRL: Tate breaks jaw as Warriors fall to Dragons

Warriors centre Brent Tate broke his jaw during the first half against the Dragons. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors' injury woes continued today with centre Brent Tate suffering a broken jaw early in their 22-20 defeat to National Rugby League leaders St George Illawarra in Auckland.

The former Kangaroo and Queensland State of Origin representative received the injury in a third-minute tackle on second rower Ben Creagh.

The tackle jolted the ball free and led to the Warriors' opening the scoring via halfback James Maloney.

But as Maloney was dotting down, Tate, who missed most of last season because of a knee reconstruction, was still on the ground.

He did get up, but after making a couple more tackles, left the field in the 13th minute.

The Warriors have battled injuries all season, with chief playmaker Brett Seymour and props Steve Price, Sam Rapira and Jacob Lillyman all unavailable against the Dragons.

Among others who have spent time in the casualty ward are skipper Simon Mannering, winger Manu Vatuvei, lock Micheal Luck and Maloney, the last three making their return to action this afternoon.

The wet and windy weather at Mt Smart Stadium made for plenty of mistakes from both sides, although ball security improved when the rain stopped in the second spell.

After Tate's tackle on Creagh, Maloney was first to the loose ball and scampered 30 metres to score.

He added the conversion and also a penalty nine minutes from haltime for an 8-0 lead.

The Warriors had done well to keep the Dragons scoreless over most of the opening half despite making repeated errors in their own territory.

But the visitors finally took advantage of an opportunity via a penalty as the interval approached.

Five-eighth Jamie Soward's pinpoint crosskick found unmarked Kiwi Jason Nightingale and the winger caught the ball on the dive to score, with Soward adding the extras.

Early in the second half, yet another turnover led to the Dragons' going ahead, with centre Matt Cooper finishing off a backline move and Soward landing his second conversion from the touchline.

The Warriors hit back via a couple of accurate kicks from five-eighth Isaac John, brought in as Seymour's replacement and who produced an excellent performance.

John forced a line drop-out with a bomb and then produced a crosskick that Mannering grabbed to score a converted try that put the Warriors back in front.

But two tries in six minutes swung the contest back the Dragons' way.

Soward and winger Brett Morris set up Cooper for his second touchdown, before Soward stepped his way from a scrum to score.

However, a break by winger Kevin Locke set up a try under the posts for John and Maloney's fourth goal made it a two-point game.

There was comical episode with 50sec to go when Dragon halfback and skipper Ben Hornby heard a siren in the crowd and kicked the ball out.

St George Illawarra 22 (Matt Cooper 2, Jason Nightingale, Jamie Soward tries; Soward 3 goals) New Zealand Warriors 20 (James Maloney, Simon Mannering, Isaac John tries; Maloney 4 goals). Halftime: 6-8.

- NZPA