Roger Tuivasa-Sheck of the Warriors claims the ball against the Canberra Raiders. Photo: photosport
An injury to first-choice kicker Adam Pompey has cost the Warriors dearly as Chanel Harris-Tavita missed a shot to equalise from right next to the posts in the dying minutes of a 20-18 loss in Canberra.
The miss allowed the 10th-placed Raiders to hang on for a win that snaps a four-game losing streak while the 12th-placed Warriors are fighting to play finals this year after losing four of their last five.
Pompey converted the Warriors' first try of the night but had to be helped off the field with a knee injury at half-time and did not come back out for the second stanza.
Harris-Tavita took over kicking duties and hooked all three of his chances including a kick from just to the left of the posts that would have levelled scores at 20-20 with five minutes left in the game.
A clearly upset Harris-Tavita made a beeline for the sheds the moment the full-time siren sounded.
Kurt Capewell of the Warriors scores a try against the Canberra Raiders. Photo: photosport
What made the outcome harder to take was that the Warriors had worked to get back into the game after going behind 14-0 in the opening 20 minutes thanks to Hudson Young's double.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scored to give the Warriors some momentum going into half-time after he shifted back to fullback after Taine Tuaupiki, himself covering for the injured Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf), left the game early after a head knock.
The Warriors' returning State of Origin forwards, Kurt Capewell and Mitch Barnett, cross before the hour mark, but Harris-Tavita's misses from out wide meant the score was tied at 14-14.
Xavier Savage put the Raiders back in front when he pounced on Kaeo Weekes's 71st-minute chip, before standout prop Addin Fonua-Blake barged over, setting up a potential equaliser that turned into a heartbreaker for the Warriors.
Raiders back Xavier Savage (c) celebrates after scoring a try against the Warriors. Photo: photosport
Warriors coach Andrew Webster wasn't inclined to blame the goal-kicking for losing the game.
"We'd love to be 100 per cent on our goal-kicking every week. The goal-kicking's not the thing that decided the game."
Webster said his team's poor start was the most unacceptable part of the match, along with some poor defending.
Barnett said it didn't cross his mind to not back up after Origin, because his Warriors teammates were the ones who helped him get that sky blue jersey in the first place.
The Warriors will hope to bounce back when they host the last-placed Wests Tigers on Friday.
- ABC