Demitric Sifakula of the Warriors celebrates a try during the NRL Round 23 match, Redcliffe Dolphins v New Zealand Warriors, in Brisbane on Sunday. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
The Warriors fought back from 14 points down in a heartbreaking NRL golden point thriller against the Dolphins in Brisbane, to ultimately lose 34-32.
- The golden point loss ends the Warriors' hopes of making the playoffs this season
- Sean O'Sullivan was the hero for the Dolphins, slotting the winning drop goal from 42 metres out
- Shaun Johnson missed the NRL encounter with a quad injury
With the scores tied at 32-all at Suncorp Stadium when the hooter sounded, both sides missed desperate field goal attempts in a hectic final three minutes of regulation time.
The Dophins had the finishing touch when it mattered as hero playmaker Sean O'Sullivan booted the winning drop goal from 42 metres out and a fair way off-centre, to sink the Warriors' hearts in golden point.
While the Dolphins had the run of play in the first half to lead 20-6 at halftime, it was the Warriors who came alive in the second.
After a rocky finish to the first half when Dylan Walker was sent off on the stroke of halftime for a high shot on Mark Nicholls, it was a more determined Auckland side that fronted in the second.
Second half tries to Kurt Capewell, Ali Leiataua, Te Maire Martin and a first NRL try to Demitric Sifakula set the game alive.
Both sides had difficulty completing a set in the frantic last 10 minutes, however with five minutes to go a grubber kick saw Mitch Barnett in line to score.
He was unable to get the ball down, but the replay showed Kodi Nikorima grabbing his jersey and pulling him back.
With the penalty try awarded and the conversion safely over, the match was set for a crazy finish at 32-all with three minutes to play.
The Warriors gave it everything in the second half but couldn't close out the game through their two drop goal attempts.
They scored six tries to the Dolphins' five, but missed conversions from Chanel Harris-Tavita saw them back on points.
The Dolphins are back in the top eight as Wayne Bennett's men chase a finals spot for the first time in the history of the club.
The Warriors languish in fourteenth on the ladder.
- RNZ