NRL: Warriors in top four contention

Warriors fullback Kevin Locke crosses for his try. Photo / Getty Images

Panthers 12 Warriors 26

The Warriors campaign is still on the rise with just two weeks until the finals.

They could still give Ivan Cleary the ultimate send-off but there were signs of vulnerability as they gave up a 16-0 halftime lead to limp to an eventual 26-12 win in Penrith last night.

The win pushes them into the top four for the first time this season after such a luxury seemed out of their grasp when they lost their first three games. However, sloppiness on defence - with too many tackle breaks and penalties - meant it looked like they were about to melt late in the second half like the distorted snakes, jubes and jaffas in the press box lolly jar.

One sight Warriors fans are not going to tire of easily is the face of Shaun Johnson steaming across the field, effortlessly delving into his anaerobic fitness to score runaway tries. His features are curiously distorted by his breathing, or lack thereof, and possibly his pace.

Johnson produced more of his runaway magic last night and the hosts were left in a vapour trail over 90 metres. It came despite calamitous beginnings. The ball bobbled from a dodgy pass after a scrum inside the Warriors 10m line, but a deft pass from Kevin Locke in the tackle and Johnson was off, swerving away from Panthers wing David Simmons into a smooth curve towards the line.

Locke was not to be outdone, rattling through some commando antics right on halftime. He ducked under the Panthers defence to collect a Brad Tighe kick on his 30m line. He looked like he was re-enacting the opening credits from MacGyver as he jumped up and took a direct route to the line.

His defence also continues to be spectacular on occasion. Chasing down Panthers fullback Michael Jennings four minutes into the second half to wrap him up around the legs was worth the price of admission - if you were one of the lucky recipients of 2000 tickets Jennings had to hand out last week after turning up to training drunk, you would have seen it for free. But Locke's good work was undone by an easy try to complete that set of tackles.

Jennings was having little fortune otherwise. He let a bomb land, which produced a lucky bounce in his favour, then spilled the ball in the tackle on his line for Ben Matulino to be on hand for the easiest try of his career, going untouched under the posts. The free tickets for which Jennings forked out A$22,000 of his salary did not come with a refund.

The Panthers could have punished the Warriors further, especially in the early stages. Second-rower Trent Waterhouse missed a prime opportunity in his last home game, when he was across the line for a try on the back of some slick passing, but produced a desperate but ultimately butter-fingered effort to claim and force the ball.

Simmons was also overpowered across the corner flag by Simon Mannering with some help from Locke midway through the first half as the Warriors defence held stern.

Panthers 12 (D. Simmons, B. Tighe tries, L. Walsh 2 goals).

Warriors 26 (S. Johnson, B. Matulino, K. Locke, M. Vatuvei tries, J. Maloney 5 goals).

Halftime Warriors 16-0.

The Roosters scored three tries in the last six minutes to storm to a 36-25 win over the Sharks.

Roosters 36 (B. Takairangi, J. Waerea-Hargreaves, J. Friend 2, A. Minichiello, F-P. Nuuausala tries; B Anasta 6 goals).

Sharks 25 (B. Pomeroy, W. Graham, J. Williams 2 tries; N. Stapleton 4 goals; W. Graham field goal).