Warriors 24
Cowboys 14
KEY POINTS:
Just as you start writing off the Warriors, they confound predictions and give hope to their long-suffering fans.
They are still a long shot to make the playoffs but the fact they have won their last two matches as well as the two points they picked up from the bye last weekend still means they're a shot chance.
Ivan Cleary's team had what was considered a relatively easy assignment last night, taking on a Cowboys side who had lost their last nine games. Their last victory was the 48-20 win over the Warriors in Townsville in round six.
They were also missing seven regular starters through injury and suspension, including Matt Bowen, Carl Webb and new Warriors recruit Jacob Lillyman but it also meant they had nothing to lose given their season effectively ended weeks ago.
The Warriors also know all about banana-skin matches, having been upset by a Rabbitohs side who couldn't buy a win five weeks ago. They also had a reminder that nothing is certain in the NRL with the Titans and Knights upstaging their more fancied opponents on Friday night.
The Warriors, however, did enough to collect the points to keep their season alive and ensure the presentation for Ruben Wiki reaching 300 first-grade games was indeed something worth celebrating.
They had a few nervy moments and the game wasn't safe until seven minutes from time, when Micheal Luck scored, but the victory was the most important thing and it was only the second time this season they have achieved consecutive wins.
Like the game against the Bunnies, the Warriors produced an excellent opening 30 minutes of football but couldn't convert it into enough points to control the match.
Their defence was aggressive and they did something they haven't done enough of all season - attack with players in motion.
The ball carrier had multiple options, which put uncertainty into the minds of their opponents and they found joy spreading the ball from one side of the park to the other.
Simon Mannering and Sonny Fai were always threats on the left edge with their size and speed.
It was through that route they scored their first try in the 16th minute - Mannering passing to Fai to bustle over - and also their second 10 minutes later, when Grant Rovelli threw a good cutout pass for Aidan Kirk to score when the defence were waiting for Fai.
The home side was also aided by the fact referee Sean Hampstead played a true 10m, not the 12-15m other whistleblowers do, which meant the Warriors could keep a close watch on playmaker Johnathan Thurston.
Three of his first-half kicks were charged down and he often found he had little time to weave his magic with a defender in his face.
For all the Warriors' dominance in the first half, however, they went to the break leading only 8-4 after John Williams scored right on halftime.
The Warriors' intensity had dropped and errors had crept into their game to let the Cowboys back into it.
Thurston couldn't be contained for the entire night and he created Williams' second in the 46th minute with a clever chip kick and he looked increasingly dangerous as the match wore on.
The Cowboys' lead, however, was short-lived, as first Jerome Ropati and then Mannering touched down.
Mannering's was courtesy of another deft Rovelli pass. The little halfback can be average at times but every so often produces plays that would confirm him as a top-drawer player if he could do it more often.
Many thought the worst when Ashley Graham crossed 20 minutes from time to reduce the gap to 18-14 but Luck's try finally broke their resistance.
With such a poor points differential, the Warriors probably need another five wins from their remaining eight games to make the playoffs. But unlike the Cowboys, they can still dream about a trip to the Promised Land.
Warriors 24 (S. Fai, A. Kirk, J. Ropati, S. Mannering, M. Luck tries, L. Hohaia 2 gls) Cowboys 14 (J. Williams try). HT: 8-4.
The Junior Warriors maintained their recent good form in the Toyota Cup with a 32-12 win over the Cowboys in the early game at Mt Smart Stadium last night. The win, their sixth in their last seven games, lifted them to third on the table midway through the weekend's games. They now have 24 points after 16 rounds and travel to take on the Bulldogs, who were in fourth, next weekend.
