Bulldogs unable to rein in Warriors
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Josh Curran's stellar display has given the Warriors' finals hopes a huge boost but coach Nathan Brown doesn't dare to think about an unlikely playoff berth just yet.
Sunday's 24-10 triumph over Canterbury ensures they finish the weekend a win outside the top eight heading into the final three rounds.
It was the Warriors' third straight victory and with winnable games to come against the Broncos, Raiders and Titans, they could sneak into the playoffs despite sitting 12th on the ladder but Brown didn't want to look any further ahead than the Broncos next week.
"To get our third win was really really good," he said.
"Next week we'll play the Broncs who from the first half of the year to the second have made a lot of changes and they're starting to cause teams a lot of trouble themselves now so that will be another hard game next week.
Match: Warriors v Bulldogs
Round 22 -
home Team
Warriors
12th Position
away Team
Bulldogs
16th Position
Venue: Moreton Daily Stadium, Redcliffe
"We're certainly going to need to be a little better next week."
Curran used his line running to great effect, breaking the line in his team's first set, scoring one try, setting up another and finishing the match with three line breaks, 175 run metres and 43 tackles.
Curran bounced around a couple of clubs before finding a home at the Warriors and coach Brown said the second-rower was in career-best form.
"Josh was at the Roosters and Parra so he's been at good clubs; he's there because he has talent," Brown said.
Early-tackle kick from Harris-Tavita for Walsh
"Then he's appeared at the Warriors, why it's happening for him now shows as people get a bit older they mature ... his form today, he was probably the best player on the field by a fair margin after last week's game as well."
It was another frustrating afternoon for the Bulldogs, who were boosted by the inclusion of Raiders loan duo Ryan James and Corey Horsburgh.
They finished on the wrong side of a 9-2 penalty count that included four dangerous tackles, two illegal steals and a kick-off sailing dead on the full and failed to get to a kick on last tackle multiple times. James and Sione Katoa (twice) were also placed on report while Nick Meaney failed a HIA.
Warriors halfback Sean O'Sullivan had an action-packed start to the game, creating three tries – two for the Warriors and one for their opponents – inside the opening 15 minutes.
He threw a perfect short-ball for hard-running Curran to score just three minutes in then threw an intercept straight to Aaron Schoupp three minutes later.
The Dogs' centre never looked like being caught.
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O'Sullivan then reloaded with another great ball for Curran, who almost scored himself but tossed the inside ball for Jazz Tevaga to score his first try of the year.
The Warriors went further ahead through powerhouse winger Edward Kosi, who received a lovely cut-out pass from Reece Walsh to make it 16-6 after 22 minutes.
Some poor execution from both sides on the attack ensured a few chances went to waste but with half-time looming the Bulldogs struck an important blow.
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They were awarded a six-again call with just over a minute to go and capitalised through a set play with Nick Meaney setting up Okunbor to make it 16-10 at the break.
Twelve minutes into the second half when the Dogs failed to get to their kick on the last tackle – this time inside their own half – the Warriors capitalised with a third-tackle kick and a stunning chase from Walsh to go up 22-10.
Thereafter followed an unhappy sequence for Canterbury; they forced a goal-line drop-out then were awarded multiple repeat sets for repeated offside infringements against the Warriors.
Curran steams through a hole
The Warriors' defence was untroubled by the Dogs' unimaginative attack and eventually got the ball back from a poor kick only for Edward Kosi to drop it and the Dogs to pick it up and score.
However, Kosi was hit in the head by Sione Katoa after losing it, with the subsequent penalty leaving Katoa on report and negating both the Warriors error and Canterbury try.
Canterbury also lost fullback Nick Meaney for the final 15 minutes of the game due to a failed HIA and have Raiders loan player Ryan James on report for dangerous contact on Chanel Harris-Tavita, which could have implications for both Canterbury and Canberra if he is charged.
