NRL: Warriors crash in Brisbane

Sam Thaiday of the Broncos takes on the Warriors defence. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors' woes on the road worsened as they crashed to a 28-14 National Rugby League loss to the Brisbane Broncos tonight.

Up 8-0 and utterly dominant through the opening half-hour, the Warriors standards plummeted as the match wore on at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, extending their winless run on Australian soil to seven matches.

Not since the upset of Manly in round two have the New Zealanders tasted their lone success across the Tasman, a record that is seriously threatening their playoff hopes.

It was the second leg of a failed Queensland road trip, following last weekend's 28-12 loss to the Gold Coast Titans.

The Warriors must stop the rot against the high-flying Bulldogs in Auckland on Sunday next week or leave their playoff chances hanging by a thread.

It is likely seven wins will be needed from their last nine games to finish in the top eight.

Veteran captain Steve Price scored both of tonight's Warriors tries, early in each half, but there were few other highlights, particularly in a second half which they lost 24-6.

Winger Kevin Locke produced some exciting moments while back-rower Micheal Luck was industrious on defence but the Warriors defence was as inconsistent as their handling, particularly after halftime.

The out-of-form and understrength Broncos, who had lost their four previous games, gained in confidence as the match wore on, offloading at will and finding extra numbers out wide. Their five tries were all scored over the last 43 minutes.

The Warriors' hopes took a blow soon before kickoff when winger Manu Vatuvei was ruled out with a strained hamstring that had bothered him all week.

He was replaced by Denan Kemp, who had a difficult night with his hands in his first appearance for six weeks, twice unable to field tricky passes when the line appeared open.

One incident stood out, in the 27th minute when second rower Simon Mannering bust the line. With Kemp and Joel Moon clear outside him, the pass bisected the two former Broncos in what proved a decisive mistake.

It seemed to spark blunders in the New Zealand game after an exceptional start where they constantly pressured the line of the Broncos', who have the second-worst defensive record in the league.

Price barged over in a four-man tackle to open the scoring in the seventh minute.

Locke's conversion and subsequent penalty gave them a deserved lead but Broncos winger Israel Folau crossed just before the break after Ben Matulino spilled possession.

A Locke error close to his line resulted in a debut first grade try to Broncos fullback Josh Hoffman soon after the break to put the hosts 10-8 ahead.

Price had the Warriors back in front when he outjumped Hoffman to field a bomb and crash over for a remarkable score.

However, it was largely one-way traffic from their as unheralded outside backs Lagi Setu, Antonio Winterstein and Steve Michaels brought the crowd to life with tries.

Former Kiwis utility Tonie Carroll made a fine return from retirement off the bench for the Broncos although they suffered a blow when Kangaroos star Folau limped off with a serious-looking ankle injury.

There was also a long delay 6min from the end when a spectacular shoulder charge from Warriors centre Jerome Ropati on Joel Clinton, resulted in the Broncos prop being stretchered from the field.

- NZPA