NRL: Warriors snap losing streak

Brent Tate of the Warriors is tackled by Scott Bolton of the Cowboys. Photo / Getty Images

The New Zealand Warriors snapped a three-match losing streak in the National Rugby League by beating North Queensland 24-12 in Auckland tonight.

However, the Warriors' victory was tempered by the sight of winger Manu Vatuvei limping off during the match.

Vatuvei was making a comeback after a month out with a hamstring injury and it was a tough night for the giant winger, who dropped the ball the first two times he got it.

When he got possession a third time, he went on a strong run, but came up hobbling from the tackle with what looked like an ankle problem.

Later in the first half, Vatuvei almost scored what would have been his seventh try in his fifth appearance of the season, but just put his knee out before forcing the ball down.

Despite continuing to look uncomfortable, he stayed on the field until four minutes into the second half.

Vatuvei was one of two key Warriors returning from injury, the other being halfback Brett Seymour.

Seymour's opposite, Johnathan Thurston, also played after plenty of pre-match speculation about whether he had recovered sufficiently from a shoulder injury.

The Kangaroo and Queensland representative set up his side's two tries and then produced a 40-20 and almost brought a third.

The Warriors produced some stinging defence early on to put the Cowboys on the back foot.

But they were also helped by some woeful ball security in the opening spell from their opponents, who at one stage had completed just four of 14 sets.

The Warriors got on the board after 11 minutes on the back for a 40-20 kick by five-eighth James Maloney.

They took advantage of the field position, with second rower Ukuma Ta'ai powering his way over close to the posts.

They went further ahead when Seymour's cross-field bomb went loose in the in-goal and second rower Lewis Brown was the first to pounce.

The Warriors, who had failed to score before halftime in four of their previous five matches, got a third try 13 minutes from the break.

After dummy half Ian Henderson had dropped the ball behind him, he managed to get on the end of a Seymour pass to dot down.

Maloney added his third conversion and then a penalty to give the home side a 20-0 haltime lead.

The Cowboys finally came alive after the break.

After the Warriors conceded two consecutive penalties for offside, a Thurston short ball put second rower Scott Bolton through a gap to score.

After yet another penalty against the Warriors, a Thurston cut-out pass found its way to winger Michael Bani, who crossed in the corner.

Thurston landed the conversion from the sideline to maintain his 100 per cent goalkicking record for the season from 24 attempts.

From the kickoff, he produced a 40-20 and from the repeat possession Cowboys almost got over again through centre Ashley Graham, who was only just forced into touch.

The home fans' nerves were steadied nine minutes from time when another Seymour bomb found its way to winger Kevin Locke, who dotted down.

The match ended with North Queensland centre Willie Tonga being sinbinned after the hooter when a scuffle broke out.

- NZPA