Young NZ Warriors wiz kid Reece Walsh has thrilled fans this season and will undoubtedly prove a matchwinner during his (hopefully) long stay with the Auckland club.
But the teenager's wayward goal-kicking contributed mightily to their 24-22 loss against his old outfit, Brisbane Broncos - a defeat that has all but ended their hopes of making the 2021 NRL playoffs.
In a game that saw momentum swing one way and then other other, the Warriors outscored their rivals five tries to four, but Walsh could only convert one of those, while counterpart Herbie Farnworth was a perfect four-from-four off the tee.
Walsh's last miss came a couple of minutes from fulltime, when second-rower Euan Aitken was awarded a dubious try in a goal-line scramble, leaving his fullback a difficult conversion attempt from wide left - not the natural angle for a left-footed kicker.
To his own disgust, the youngster hooked his attempt across the posts, but had an opportunity to make amends in the final minute, when he sliced a long-range two-point field goal attempt that would have levelled the scores.
The Broncos established an early 12-0 lead, with two well-taken (converted) tries by winger Xavier Coates, before Warriors winger Marcelo Montoya responded with a great team try before halftime.
Peta Hiku was heroic for the Warriors, somehow preventing a try by Anthony Milford, by wrapping up the ball in a smothering tackle behind the goal-line, then narrowly missing a miracle try of his own before the break.
But he was rewarded soon after the restart, when Dallin Watene-Zelezniak grubbered infield and Hiku toed ahead, forcing the ball over the line, after it had eluded a couple of Broncos defenders.
Hiku struck again, luring the final Broncos defenders, before flicking a deft backhand pass for Watene-Zelezniak to score and lock the scores, but Brisbane regained their advantage through an opportunistic try to Albert Kelly.
Another try from Josh Curren - one of the Warriors' big improvers during their late-season run - was converted by Walsh and brought them level again.
Anthony Milford profited from another cruel bounce to put Brisbane ahead 24-18, but the Warriors weren't done, with Aitken given the benefit of considerable doubt in the final moments.
The Auckland side had done enough to win, but could not add the icing required to clinch two competition points.
The result ends the Warriors three-game winning streak and puts a big dent in their changes of making the competition's top eight over the last two weeks of the season.
They sit in 11th on the ladder, only two points outside the top eight, but must now beat two of the three teams standing between them and the playoffs - Canberra Raiders and Gold Coast Titans - in their final regular season outings. They must also hope misfortune befalls Cronulla Sharks, currently occupying that last playoff spot.
NZ Warriors 22 (Montoya, Curran, Aitken, Watene-Zeleniak & Hiku tries; Walsh conversion) Brisbane Broncos 24 (Coates 2, Milford & Kelly tries; Farnworth 4 conversions)
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