Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
Sport
Darren Walton

Warriors beat Raiders in NRL thriller

The Warriors celebrate Shaun Johnson kicking his second match-winning field goal of the season. (AAP)

The Warriors have rebounded from their Anzac Day capitulation to post a spectacular 21-20 golden-point NRL win over Canberra.

The Warriors trailed all game before a controversial penalty goal from Reece Walsh with 35 seconds remaining forced extra time at Redcliffe's Moreton Daily Stadium.

Shaun Johnson then nailed the match-winning field goal to consign Canberra to their fifth consecutive defeat, leaving Raiders coach Ricky Stuart exasperated.

Even the Warriors couldn't believe their luck.

"It's good we got the win mate but I dont think we had a right to win that game tonight," Walsh told Fox Sports.

"We were pretty poor mate and I feel like we've got to come back next week with a better attitude than we did tonight and show everyone how we can really play.

"But I'm happy we got the win tonight."

Stuart will be livid after watching his side give up eight-point leads on three occasions, the last time after interchange forward Corey Horsburgh was placed on report for a contentious high tackle on Matt Lodge in the 80th minute.

Lodge and Canberra prop Joseph Tapine were also reported in a niggly affair, while Raiders front-rower Josh Papalii may also come under scrutiny from the match review committee for an alleged eye gouge on Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Five days after accusing some of his charges of giving up in their record-breaking 70-10 drubbing at the hands of Melbourne, Warriors coach Nathan Brown certainly couldn't question his side's commitment this time around.

They trailed 8-0 early as Canberra centre Matthew Timoko posted the game's first try in the sixth minute and Brad Schneider added a penalty goal.

Jordan Rapana gift-wrapped the Warriors an invitation back into the contest with a sloppy pass on his own quarter line that Nick Cotric coughed up.

Warriors winger Adam Pompey crossed on the ensuing play, only for the Warriors to concede a soft try to Hudson Young minutes later.

Another blunder from Rapana, this time a slip in defence, enabled teenage centre Viliama Vailea to bag his maiden NRL try off a probing chip kick from Warriors debutant Daejan Asi, to again cut Canberra's lead to two points.

Jack Wighton earned the Raiders' a more deserving 20-12 half-time lead when he did it all himself five minutes before the break.

A Euan Aitken try in the 63rd minute again reduced Canberra's lead to two points before the dramatic finale.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.