Panthers v Broncos preview
7 hours ago | Rhys Sullivan
It wasn't a vintage display from the Warriors but a late Shaun Johnson try gave them an important 12-10 victory over the Roosters at Mt Smart Stadium.
A flurry of penalties made for a stop start first half where the Warriors had winger Ken Maumalo binned for a professional foul. The Roosters fresh from their 46-nil flogging against the Storm were first on the board tonight.
Mitchell Aubusson benefited when he was at the end of a nice offload to dive over and make it 4-nil.
Warriors tried to re-energise their attack throughout the first half but with a one-legged Shaun Johnson and a flat attack they weren't able to make many in-roads against a resolute Roosters defense.
Their only points came from an Issac Luke penalty goal in the 25th minute to make it 4-2.
After half-time the Warriors looked to finally spark into action from an innacious bomb that fell kindly and almost finished in Ayshford strolling in if not for a Daniel Tupou knock down. Luke once again punished the Roosters with two more penalty goals to snatch the lead 6-4.
Once they got ahead, it was the spark of Johnson that put them eight ahead. Camped on the Roosters line, and last tackle the New Zealand half danced before he sliced through the line and swung his arm around to put the ball down.
Roosters had a late flurry with Isaac Liu cut through the line and sent Cameron Watson across to cut the deficit to two. From the kick-off Shaun Kenny-Dowall stepped through the line and spied the try-line but failed to find a red jersey with his flick pass.
The Warriors were able to shut down the rest of the game for a vital two points. The Warriors head to Cronulla to take on the competition leaders next Saturday while the Roosters enjoy a much-needed bye before hosting Canterbury at Allianz Stadium on Thursday week.
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