The Warriors snapped their three-game NRL losing streak with an impressive comeback victory over the Wests Tigers at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday.
Peta Hiku grabbed a second-half double to go with tries from Karl Lawton and Tohu Harris as the Warriors overcame a six-point halftime deficit to win 26-20.
The Tigers also scored four tries but it was the boot of Kodi Nikorima that proved to be the difference, the Warriors five-eighth nailing all five shots at goal to secure just their fourth win of the season.
The Warriors were on the back foot early, with an uncharacteristic error by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck five metres out from his own try line giving the Tigers the first chance to strike.
They didn’t mess about, with Moses Mbye scoring off a superb one-handed offload from back-rower Luciano Leilua.
And it wasn’t long before David Nofoaluma crossed on the other side of the field, the winger showing great balance to stay in touch after hauling in a high cut-out pass.
The opening quarter would have been worse had the Tigers not missed both conversion attempts.
But come the 25th-minute, the Warriors were back on level terms after Lawton caught the defence napping around the ruck followed by a Nikorima penalty goal.
Tigers coach Michael Maguire would have been filthy with the ease at which Lawton darted over in the Warriors’ first decent attacking opportunity.
With possession swinging, the Warriors began to find easy metres, particularly on the right edge through Jack Hetherington, who relished the move from the middle.
But it was the Tigers who went into the break up 14-8 after interchange player Sam McIntyre scored on the stroke of halftime.
The Warriors did themselves no favours, inviting them in with three consecutive penalties deep in their own territory. Despite the sustained pressure, they should have done better to stop McIntyre, who caught the defence ball-watching to slice through.
The Tigers had a golden chance to put their foot on the throat at the start of the second after Blake Green sent his kick out on the full in the opening set.
But a Benji Marshall error let the Warriors off the hook before Hiku took the game by the scruff of the neck.
The centre showed great strength to carry three defenders over the line and get his side back on level terms.
Ten minutes later, he used speed and guile to beat the Tigers, fooling the defence with a dummy on the inside then racing 30 metres to ground the ball just before going into touch.
