In a display of sheer grit and determination, the Warriors pulled off a gritty 22-20 win against the Panthers in a match that was less about style and more about resilience.
Despite the absence of key players like Shaun Johnson due to injuries, the Warriors faced additional setbacks when Wayde Egan exited the game early after failing a Head Injury Assessment.
The match, held in Brisbane, saw the Warriors rally from behind twice to upset the reigning premiers, despite the looming threat of their fifth consecutive loss. With the clock winding down and the Warriors trailing by four, backup fullback Taine Tuaupiki stepped up, scoring and then converting his own try to edge his team ahead by two points.
The victory was sealed when Panthers’ Dylan Edwards missed a crucial penalty goal in the dying moments, capping off a dramatic turn of events for the Warriors.
The game began disastrously for the Warriors, with an initial misstep leading to an early try for Edwards. The situation worsened when Egan was sidelined shortly thereafter.
The Warriors managed to level the score midway through the first half, though the effort was marred by Marcelo Montoya suffering a head injury in the process, though he was later deemed fit to continue. The Panthers held a six-point lead at halftime, but the game’s momentum shifted early in the second half after Isaah Yeo was sent to the sin bin for a professional foul. This change led to Ali Leiataua’s first NRL try, which Tuaupiki converted, tying the game once more.
Te Maire Martin sparked the Warriors’ attack, setting up Adam Pompey for a go-ahead try. However, the Panthers regained their form once at full strength, with Yeo and Izack Tago capitalizing on Warriors’ defensive lapses.
In the end, it was Tuaupiki’s critical contributions that snapped the Warriors’ losing streak and secured an improbable victory against the odds.
