KEY POINTS:
Australian newspapers are in shock mode following the Warrior's surprise win yesterday over National Rugby League (NRL) premiership favourites the Melbourne Storm.
The Warriors have been credited with breathing new life into the NRL finals after their win. The Daily Telegraph sums up the competition like this: "Unbackable favourites are suddenly beatable. Friendless underdogs are suddenly winners".
The Telegraph describes the game as a "cracking match full of toughness, skill and semifinal intensity" while The Melbourne Age reports that the finals "have come alive".
The Aussie media have focused on the Warriors' Michael Witt and his pre-try celebration that almost cost the Warriors the game.
Witt held the ball aloft before touching the ball down in in-goal. The move was almost ruined by the Storm's Cameron Smith who attempted to kick the ball from his hands.
"It will certainly be the most talked about try celebration of the year," reports the Age.
The Storm's loss to the warriors was prophesied by the kick-off when they "unbelievably caught the Storm players unawares as the ball simply bounced between several players and out of touch, giving the Warriors the first attacking opportunity," the Age reports.
The Sydney Morning Herald is a little less kind when it comes to the team from Melbourne.
"The Melbourne players sat forlornly as they farewelled their departing teammates with a tribute after the game. Time To Say Goodbye played through the loudspeakers. The Storm may have also been farewelling their premiership defence," reports the Herald.
The Australian newspaper has gone a step further and named the Warriors hot favourites to beat the Roosters, the team that denied them the title in 2002.
The national paper also makes mention of Witt's winning try, describing the series of passes that lead to the win as the "most dramatic of circumstances".
- NZ HERALD STAFF
