League: Warriors upset NRL leaders Brisbane

Warriors Stacey Jones is dumped by Brisbane Broncos Darren Smith. Picture / Reuters

The New Zealand Warriors kept in touch with the National Rugby League top eight with a stirring 30-18 upset of leaders Brisbane in Auckland today.

The Broncos had come to Ericsson Stadium on the back of 10 successive wins, but found themselves outscored six tries to three, with second rower Wairangi Koopu getting two for the Warriors.

The home side, wearing replicas of their original strip, used the match to commemorate their debut in the competition 10 years ago when their first opponents were Brisbane in March, 1995.

The Polynesian dummers were also reintroduced, but it was Broncos who struck first after some early Warriors mistakes.

On the back of some sustained Brisbane pressure, winger Leon Bott went over in the corner.

While the Broncos were looking the more clinical, the Warriors hit back when hooker Lance Hohaia finished off some razzle dazzle football.

Then Koopu burrowed his way over, and Stacey Jones' second goal took the home side out to 12-6.

Brisbane levelled via a converted try to teenage winger Steve Michaels, who was on the end of a 90m attack started by a big break by centre Justin Hodges.

But the Warriors went to the interval 18-12 ahead after a pinpoint Jones bomb was tapped back by winger Manu Vatuvei for lock Sione Faumuina to score.

Both sides had chances early in the second half.

Bott was pushed into touch just out from the corner, while Vatuvei and then Jones were unable to grasp difficult passes just out from the Brisbane line.

When the Broncos equalised again midway through the half, it was through a soft try to halfback Brett Seymour, who found a big gap 20m out.

But the Warriors went ahead again when debutant centre Simon Mannering, 18, who had come off the bench earlier in the half, created a try with his first touch of the ball.

He brushed off a tackler before unloading to Vatuvei, who crossed in the corner.

The Warriors increased the margin to 26-18 when they spread the ball to the other side for winger Francis Meli to dot down.

Koopu added the icing with his second touchdown in the final minute to give the Warriors the double over the Broncos, after their win in Brisbane in round two.

New Zealand Warriors 30 (Wairangi Koopu 2, Lance Hohaia, Sione Faumuina, Manu Vatuvei, Francis Meli tries; Stacey Jones 3 goals) Brisbane Broncos 18 (Leon Bott, Steve Michaels, Brett Seymour tries; Darren Lockyer 3 goals). Halftime: 18-12.

- NZPA