While far from convincing, NZ Warriors have claimed a seventh straight NRL win with a dogged 18-6 victory over St George Dragons in Auckland on Friday.
It was the latest in a series of examples of 'winning ugly' for Andrew Webster's troops. As far as both the eye and statistical tests went, the Warriors were the superior side throughout the contest but were continually undone by errors and a determined Dragons outfit.
Nevertheless, two competition points can never be taken granted - particularly when they come with a guarantee of a top-four finish. The third-placed Warriors will have a chance to head into the post-season with a club record-equalling eighth consecutive triumph, when they complete their regular season schedule against Redcliffe Dolphins next weekend.
The match hung in the balance until the 75th minute, when Addin Fonua-Blake's unwavering kick chase led to the match-sealing try, with Shaun Johnson adding a late penalty to mitigate the damage to the Warriors faithful's finger nails.
The Warriors will also be sweating on a couple of concerning injuries in key areas. After a stand-out start to the contest, half Luke Metcalf limped to the sideline with a recurrence of the hamstring issue that hampered his start to the season. Centre Rocco Berry also departed early.
Despite a glaring bombed try, Fonua-Blake was at his metronomically magnificent best, carting for another 200-plus metres over 21 carries to go with 25 tackles. Skipper Tohu Harris was also at his consistent best, with 142 metres and a mammoth 42 tackles.
Fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was arguably the pick of the Warriors' bunch, making several trademark bursts from the back to rack up 171 metres, including a try.
After a disallowed Dragons try in the opening 10 seconds of the match, the Warriors were the first to cross the chalk. On the back of a slick set move, Luke Metcalf delivered a pinpoint skip pass to Adam Pompey, who cut back in on an awkward line to dive in untouched.
Five minutes later, Johnson racked up yet another try assist by putting Nicoll-Klokstad and the fullback did the rest, buckling Dragons opposite Tyrell Sloan's ankles on his way to the in-goal to put the Warriors up 10-0 with a quarter played.
After scraping within a blade of grass of another try on a couple of occasions, Fonua-Blake was sent through a yawning gap at close range by Dylan Walker moments before halftime but fumbled the ball as he slid under the crossbar, bombing a certain try and letting the Dragons off the hook again.
With 71 percent of territory and 60 percent of possession in the first half, the Warriors certainly would have felt they should have had more than a 10-0 advantage to show for on the scoreboard heading into the break, as they were hampered by seven errors through the opening spell.
The Warriors were dealt a blow to open the second half, as in-form half Luke Metcalf limped to the sideline with a hamstring issue. The club will dearly hope it isn't a recurrence of the injury that kept him out of the opening portion of his debut Warriors campaign.
The visitors began the half with renewed purpose, forcing the Warriors' defence to repel a series of tryline raids to open the period.
Dragons hooker Jacob Liddle scampered over in the 53rd minute but was denied by the bunker, who revealed he'd placed the ball on the defender's leg before dotting down.
Eight minutes later, there was no doubt. Ben Hunt's crossfield kick was well claimed by Daniel Russell, who did brilliantly to offload in the tackle to a streaking Zac Lomax in support for the team's first try, cutting their deficit to four points with a quarter left to play.
With the contest teetering, Fonua-Blake redeemed himself for his earlier indiscretion by scoring a rather bizarre game-sealing try.
Not giving up on the kick chase from a Johnson grubber, Dragons fullback Sloan looked to have had a Johnson grubber comfortably covered. But as he looked to scoop it up and run it out of his in-goal, it slipped from his grasp, allowing Fonua-Blake - who hadn't given up on the chase - to storm through and get his hand on the ball and put the result beyond doubt.
The Warriors will move on to face the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium next Saturday, fingers crossed that the Brisbane Broncos slip up and open the door for them to leapfrog them into second place.
NZ Warriors 18 (Pompey, Nicoll-Klokstad, Fonua-Blake tries; Pompey 6 goals) St George Dragons 6 (Lomax try; Lomax goal) HT: 10-0
