Warriors execute 84-point turnaround

An emphatic 42-0 win wasn't enough for the New Zealand Warriors to creep into the top eight today, the home side smashing the Gold Coast Titans at Mt Smart Stadium in front of 13,000 fans.

Needing a 50-point victory to jump over the Brisbane Broncos into the top eight, the Warriors started in sublime fashion, racing the clock for much of the first part of the match to be up 18-0 after as many minutes. Tries to Ben Henry, Dominique Peyroux and Nathan Friend had the hosts dominating early. Shaun Johnson's pinpoint boot helped the cause.

Sam Tomkins and Konrad Hurrell were next on the board after the Warriors withstood a Titans' momentum shift, which pushed the home side to 30-0 before the halftime break. 

The second half started in much the same way as the first - poor retention by the Titans gifting the Warriors field position - they capitalised with Johnson nabbing a try before Tomkins bagged his second. Seven from seven for Johnson had the Warriors up 42-0 with half an hour left.

The score stayed that way for the duration despite both sides attempting some enterprising footy - the home side unable to get across the 50-point mark which would've seen them in the top eight with a week to play.

Speaking of next week, the Warriors have a Sunday night showdown with the Penrith Panthers at Sportingbet Stadium, which kicks off at 8:30pm NZ Time (6:30pm AEST). It's a must win for the Warriors who will then be hoping other results have fallen their way in the lead-up. The Titans on the other hand head home for one last match against Canterbury next Sunday afternoon before looking toward 2015.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (42)
Tries: Ben Henry, Shaun Johnson, Dominique Peyroux, Nathan Friend, Sam Tomkins (2), Konrad Hurrell
Conversions: Shaun Johnson (7/7)

GOLD COAST TITANS (0)

TEAM NEWS | Warriors are 1-17, but the Titans are all over the shop. Luke Bailey is OUT, replaced at prop by Mark Minichiello. Brad Takairangi moves from the centres to the back row to cover Mini, while David Mead is the new man in the centres. Paul Carter and Cody Nelson swap with the latter to start, while Maurice Blair drops off the bench to make way for Steve Michaels. Hit the teams tab for the full team list.

We are underway at Mt Smart, Warriors kicking off, Titans first with the ball. Gavin Badger and Chris James are your men in the middle. HERE WE GO!

2: A bit of background to this one - the Warriors simply have to win to maintain hope of making the top eight.

3: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
William Zillman makes an unforced error.
Big bomb goes up from Johnson and Zillman is scared by an impending Sam Tomkins, spilling it. Warriors scrum 10m out.

3: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Ben Henry. Kick to come.
Too easy, Henry slices through much to the joy of the Mt Smart faithful.

5: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson adds the extras... the Warriors do love scoring points early.

7: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
William Zillman makes an unforced error.
Paul Carige-style start to this one from Zillman, spills a simple grubber through the line. Warriors scrum 10m out.

9: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Dominique Peyroux. Kick to come.
Leuluai lays one on for Peyroux close to the line. Too easy so far.

10: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Different side, same result though, Johnson converts.

12: Johnson bombs, nobody takes it, Warriors reclaim the ball and throw it around before Hurrell takes the tackle. Handover.

14: VIDEO REFEREE possible Warriors NO TRY to Dominique Peyroux - checking use of marker as obstruction.

14: NO TRY. Vatuvei's interfered with the marker. Plus Peyroux dropped it anyway.

17: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Nathan Friend. Kick to come.
Friend takes advantage of some stumbling & bumbling Titans defence. Geez this Gold Coast side is down on confidence...

18: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson keeps the Warriors *just* ahead of the clock.

24: Titans finally with some attacking footy...

30: Titans looking better and getting more of the ball but continually lacking the finish they need to add points.

35: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Sam Tomkins. Kick to come.
Tomkins slips through a yawning gap out wide. It goes upstairs for obstruction, it's fine, no worries.

36: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson converts.

37: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Konrad Hurrell. Kick to come.
Too easy, Tomkins finds Hurell close to the line, bang.

39: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Johnson adds the extras for the fifth time today. Thirty-blot.

39: UNFORCED ERROR NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Sam Tomkins makes an unforced error.
Tomkins spills it at dummy half. Ordinary stuff there.

40: We go to the break but we have Ioane down injured with a second left on the clock. Sam Rapira is called out, he's ON REPORT for a crusher tackle.

41: UNFORCED ERROR GOLD COAST TITANS
Anthony Don makes an unforced error.
Don spills it inside his own half. Not the best start for the visitors to the second half.

41: One on one strip early in that set and now the Titans advance back up the park.

41: OK Never mind, Hurrell puts Laumape through off a loose Titans pass. Warriors back on the attack!

42: Warriors now have a penalty, they set their backline and take the tap...

43: And the Warriors force a line drop-out.

45: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Sam Tomkins. Kick to come.
Tomkins takes a pin-point Johnson kick and gets it down. The Warriors need a 50-point victory to jump over the Broncos into the eight... they're well on the way!

47: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Six from six, this guy is on fire today.

50: TRY NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Scored by Shaun Johnson. Kick to come.
Well well well... Johnson takes them all on and scores himself in the corner.

51: SUCCESSFUL CONVERSION NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Conversion attempt by Shaun Johnson successful.
Freakish.

55: VIDEO REFEREE possible NO TRY to Sam Tomkins... checking double movement. Looks ok to us...

55: NO TRY... bizarre. In real time that's a try folks. Bad luck Tomkins.

56: We have a penalty against the Titans - Bird and Laumape go toe to toe, it's all on report.

58: Greg Bird with a target on his head after that incident, Warriors defenders muscling up.

59: Tomkins fields a long range kick and Faifai Loa tackles him a bit too much, tries to throw him in goal. Penalty Warriors on their own line.

64: Warriors still in need of EIGHT points to creep into the top eight. Titans having a solid dig at the moment.

68: Titans dominating recent exchanges. Attacking now.

74: Still 42-0... Warriors have six minutes to get themselves into the eight.

76: Warriors lazy at a play-the-ball last tackle on the Titans line... the Titans claim it! Well. They obviously aren't fussed on 50 then...

79: Warriors bumbling to the finish here. Nothing doing.

80: That's that.