Warriors secure top 4 with scrappy win over tenacious Dragons

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Warriors v St George Illawarra Dragons

The New Zealand Warriors have secured a top 4 spot with a scrappy and unconvincing 18-6 win over a determined and brave St George Illawarra Dragons side at Go Media Stadium. 

The Warriors started poorly for the second week in a row after failing to get to the ball off the kick-off. Fortunately, Zac Lomax failed to gather it in cleanly and the Dragons were unlucky not to cross inside the first 15 seconds of action.

Off the back of a last tackle set-restart. The Warriors have built some field position and crossed for the first try after 13 minutes. A clever Luke Metcalf pass found Adam Pompey who hit the gap perfectly and stepped inside some poor Dragons defence to score his 5th of the season. Pompey converted for an early 6-0 lead. However, as has been the case so often in recent weeks, mistakes on their own end gave the home side some tackling practice on their own line.

Six minutes later, the Warriors punished the visitors for a cheap error from Connor Muhleisen. Wayde Egan combined with Shaun Johnson to send Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad away, and CNK beat a pathetic attempt of tackle from Lomax to cross out-wide for the home side. Pompey's conversion was waved away.

St George imploded when Moses Suli lost the ball coming out of yardage, subjecting the Dragons to more goal-line defence. Egan went within inches of the line before being denied by the Bunker and would hold them out for the remainder of the set.

Things went from bad to worse with debutant Sione Finau carried from the field injured and Zac Lomax leaving for a HIA. Despite these setbacks, the Warriors didn't add to their advantage with Addin Fonua-Blake dropping the ball over the line and only led by 10 at the change of ends.

The second half began horribly for the home side with Luke Metcalf coming off with a hamstring injury. Metcalf was looking a dejected figure on the sideline it looks serious for the young 5/8 who's worked so hard to come back into the side this season. Both sides had early chances but each time, the attack came away without points.

Off the back of some sloppy discipline from the Warriors. St George Illawarra capitalised, and it was Jacob Liddle who found the Warriors asleep at the wheel at marker and crossed for what appeared to be the visitors first of the evening... But the Bunker found a knock on and denied Liddle's try on this occasion. From the penalty that came off that knock-on, Ryan Couchman spilt possession and the attacking charge came to an end.

Despite that setback, the Dragons ended up crossing at last after an hour of being on 0. After a spirited carry from Suli, Ben Hunt went to the skies which saw Dallin Watene-Zelezniak put it down, recovered by Billy Burns and find Lomax for their first try of the evening. Lomax converted to reduce the gap to just 4 points.

With time running out, the Dragons had chances to draw level or even take the lead, but the final pass and moments were going away from the visitors. The game was secured through a moment of madness at the back. Johnson's grubber appeared to be grounded by Tyrell Sloan but he was going to pick it up and couldn't. Fonua-Blake redeemed his earlier sins to cross for the home side. Pompey's kick was successful for a 10-point lead before adding a penalty goal on full-time as the Warriors escaped in a game that will be quickly forgotten by many.