NRL: Defence helps Warriors grab top-eight spot

Shaune Corrigan of the Rabbitohs is tackled by Micheal Luck of the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Coach Ivan Cleary highlighted the New Zealand Warriors' determined defence as they consolidated their spot in the National Rugby League's top eight with a scrappy 12-6 win over South Sydney in Auckland today.

While the Warriors' defence has been a feature of their climb up to sixth on the ladder, Cleary said it was the first time his players hadn't let up from start to finish.

"It's been reasonably good for most of the year, but we probably just haven't put 80 minutes together," he said.

"We've conceded tries out of nothing. The only one we conceded today was hard to stop."

Souths coach John Lang also pointed to the home side's stingy defence as a factor in the result.

Lang also said he couldn't fault his own team's commitment.

"I was really proud of the effort, it's just our execution let us down at times," he said.

"But we were in it right to the end. We fought right to the end. We could have pulled it out."

It was the Warriors' fifth victory in a row and their seventh in their past eight matches and allowed them enter their first bye of the season in positive mood.

The result left the injury-hit Souths, who were without the likes of skipper Roy Asotasi, Greg Inglis and Sam Burgess, in the bottom half of the table.

The Rabbitohs showed glimpses of their threat on attack, but mistakes often hindered their momentum.

The Warriors had almost all the territory of a messy first half, but had just a Brett Seymour try to show for their dominance.

They created many other chances, but couldn't convert.

Just when it seemed the match would go into halftime scoreless, they finally got on the board thanks to another Souths error.

A turnover deep in the Rabbitohs' territory led to a break by Lance Hohaia, and Seymour was on hand to nab a dummy half's try under the posts.

Souths struck back in the 55th minute, when fullback Rhys Wesser kicked ahead a loose pass by Nathan Merritt and beat the defence to the ball to score.

However, a Souths mistake from the kickoff handed possession straight back to the Warriors and the home side took full advantage, with Aaron Heremaia and Lewis Brown helping to send winger Krisnan Inu over in the corner.

James Maloney's sideline conversion made it 12-6.

With five minutes to go, Souths halfback Chris Sandow's third 40-20 kick of the season kept the 16,872 crowd on the edge of their seats.

But in a frantic finish, the Warriors again continued their trend this season of strong defence late in matches to keep the Rabbitohs out.

- NZPA