Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad ran for more than 300 metres to power the Warriors to a hard fought 14-6 victory over the Roosters in Auckland.
The victory, in what was an old-fashioned defensive arm wrestle, was the Warriors' second on the trot after a horror start to the season in Las Vegas, but it came at a cost with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck leaving the field with a hamstring injury.
In a ferocious defensive battle, both sides had plenty of opportunities with the ball, only to be thwarted by desperate try-savers and a host of handling errors.
The Roosters led 6-4 at halftime but in a physical second half it was the Tricolours who blinked first courtesy of some individual brilliance from Warriors five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita.
With 15 minutes left, and pressing the Roosters line on the fifth tackle, Harris-Tavita put up a bomb and chased through the pack, leaping above Roosters skipper James Tedseco to juggle the ball and score.
It gave the Warriors their first lead of the night, and was followed up just six minutes later when impressive right centre Ali Leiataua sliced through out wide to notch his second four-pointer.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster was full of praise for Nicoll-Klokstad in his 50th game for the club and was just as impressed with his fullback's defence as his attack.
"It's cool. To play 50 for the Warriors is unbelievable," Webster said.
"He's a big reason why they only score one try tonight. People probably don't see that."
While highlighting his team's defensive efforts, Webster also singled out the courage of Tuivasa-Sheck.
The veteran came from the field midway through the second half after making a try-saving tackle on Dom Young, but Webster revealed the winger had sustained the injury several plays earlier before staying in the defensive line for Young's attempted raid.
"He did it chasing from marker," Webster said, adding that he was optimistic it wasn't a long-term injury.
"Normally I wouldn't bring it up in these moments, but I just think that's what we want to be.
"He couldn't get there for that play, it was impossible, but he got in the line and while we're trying to make a sub, comes up with the tackle.
"Charnze is over the top, like they're just big moments on a fast guy like Dom Young in the corner.
"Everyone thinks that happened there. It didn't."
In a brutal affair it was no surprise both sides suffered casualties.
The Roosters lost hooker Connor Watson after an HIA just before halftime, while Spencer Leniu played on despite badly dislocating his little finger.
Despite their second loss from three matches so far this season, Roosters coach Trent Robinson still found plenty of positives.
"I really liked the attitude that we're going at the game with," Robinson said. "I feel like we're developing really quickly as a team."
