Winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira grabbed another try double and fullback Taine Tuaupiki provided the late heroics as the Warriors rallied to beat the Dolphins 20-18 in Wellington on Saturday.
The visitors led 18-6 midway through the first half and were still ahead by four points halfway through the second, but were on the back foot and could not resist the Warriors’ persistence on attack.
Tuaupiki was a constant threat throughout and popped up in the backline to cross for the try that levelled the scores.
Halfback Tanah Boyd slotted a sideline conversion for the win.
In his third game for his new club, Khan-Pereira had his second double, laid on by the genius of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at centre inside him.
On the other side of the field, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored his seventh try in four games.
There was a sold-out crowd of 34,000 for a rare Anzac Day clash in New Zealand.
"It was a dogfight," Warriors co-captain James Fisher-Harris told Sky Sport.
The experienced prop revealed coach Andrew Webster had used some strong words at halftime.
"We got a rev-up and revved each other up at halftime and just went after it, really," Fisher-Harris said.
Webster was a happier man after the game as he reflected on the narrow win.
"If you love rugby league and you love how tough it is, they’re the games you enjoy, in my opinion," Webster said.
"They didn’t score a point in the second half and we kept them scoreless for a long time. I’m super proud.
"It just felt like we weren’t going to allow a loss, even though we weren’t that clinical or intelligent in how we went about it.
"There was a lot of heart in that second half."
The result propelled the Warriors back into second on the NRL table with six wins and two losses, edging the Wests Tigers and Sydney Roosters on points differential.
The outcome came at a heavy cost, though, with co-captain Mitch Barnett and centre Ali Leiataua both leaving the field with concussion.
"They’re a bit sore and sorry — mainly just frustrated, I think," Webster said.
"They were enjoying the occasion, a big game and not to be able to finish.
"Mitch just can’t get any momentum at the moment and Ali, he’s playing really good football, so to go off like that, he’s frustrated as well."
Watene-Zelezniak is also on report for an alleged hip-drop tackle.
The Warriors next visit the Parramatta Eels, who lag 15th on the table with three wins from seven games. — RNZ/Allied Media
