Bulldogs 24 Warriors 30
If you're a rugby league fan you get value when the Warriors come to town.
If you are a Warriors fan you're generally beside yourself with... euphoria, rage, joy or disappointment - you fill in the blank.
Few teams get people out of their seats as the New Zealand-based
franchise does and if last night was anything to judge it will continue that way.
Last night was one such occasion, especially with the shock return and limping off of bullocking wing Manu Vatuvei to spark the night in Sydney.
It finished with a classic Warriors strategy, throwing the ball everywhere, the last movement of the game - a Lewis Brown kick, a Luke Patten knock-on and then Lance Hohaia scoring to the right of the posts. It was sublime.
The match was bridged by a spectrum of such emotion.
One minute (the fourth) the visitors' defence was impenetrable as witnessed by prop Sam Rapira holding up Brett Kimmorley from a certain try with the halfback only having to touch down over the line in the tackle.
The next minute (literally) James Maloney was sold a dummy of dubious quality by Kimmorley, to waltz over the line.
The same happened in the 40th minute. Colossal defence held up tireless prop Ben Hannant over the line - take a bow Wade McKinnon who did the same taking Bryson Goodwin across the touch to save a try.
Then all that hard work dissipates such as when Ben Barba slipped through a jagged defence and Jacob Lillyman missed the crucial tackle.
Halfback Maloney, who has made a stellar transition at his new club, had a mixed game.
Early in the first half he couldn't get a kick away to complete a set as it was stamped out in front of him. He then threaded the Bulldogs defence to see first-time, first-grade skipper Brent Tate latch on to the ball in his calculated dive.
In the second half the weight of his kicking game again came to the fore but then he slipped in a high shot late in the match which may come in for scrutiny.
It certainly caught the attention of the Bulldogs as pushing and shoving commenced.
The Warriors attack leaves fans mesmerised. The offloads are often of a Harry Houdini nature - seemingly impossible and emerging from places you wouldn't expect.
Five minutes after halftime best exemplified it when the Warriors opened the scoring to lead 18-12.
Five metres from his own line McKinnon offloaded to Vatuvei who continued the hot potato trend. Less than a minute later Lillyman was crossing at the other end of the field.
Then there was the athleticism of Kevin Locke. In the 52nd minute he stepped outside Bulldogs fullback Luke Patten, leapt in the air and tapped the ball back in to Ben Matulino.
It was no try because his foot touched the chalk as he jumped but exemplified this brand of pure entertainment.
Yet the same offloading can be so frustrating, extra passes forced without thought or hesitation, demonstrating their vulnerability as a confidence team.
Still it was night to savour for the Kiwi based team and they can feel justifiably proud after five rounds moving into fifth on the table with three wins.
The Bulldogs used the match to pay a special tribute to Steve Price, who played 222 of his 313 NRL games for the Bulldogs from 1994-2004 and will retire at the end of the season.
He was taken on a lap of honour around the ground before the game, a tribute DVD was played and a special presentation was made to him after the match.
Warriors 30 (B. Tate, M. Vatuvei, J. Lillyman, K. Locke, L. Hohaia tries, J Maloney 5 goals) Bulldogs 24 (B. Kimmorley, B. Barba, L. Patten, J. Idris tries, B. Goodwin 4 goals). HT: 12-12.
