NZ Warriors have squandered a halftime lead against perennial NRL contenders Sydney Roosters, eventually falling 22-14 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Shooting for four consecutive wins, the Brisbane-based Auckland side seemed assured in a disciplined first-half display that saw them build an eight-point lead and an 8-6 advantage at the break.
But when fullback Reece Walsh put his second-half kickoff dead on the full, momentum seemed to switch to the Roosters, who did not need a second invitation to show their class.
From Walsh's mistake, Sydney gained field position for half Sam Walker to draw level with a penalty, then scored back-to-back tries to Kevin Naiqama and Walker to assume full control of the contest.
The Warriors fought back, with Walsh kicking for winger Dallin Watene-Zeleniak to score, then slotting the sideline conversion to bring the game back within a converted try, but victory slipped outside their grasp, as the Roosters benefitted from some favour from the officials and Walker sealed the result with another penalty.
"Very frsutrating," Warriors half Shaun Johnson told Sky Sport. "I thought we set ourselves up nicely in the first half, but just came out straight away very poor to start the second half.
"We just couldn't get anything going - could get any ruck speed and they had pretty good line speed all day. Lots to work on, that's for sure."
The Warriors established their early advantage with a Walsh penalty and a try to winger Edward Kosi, after centre Adam Pompey held the ball to draw and pass.
Sydney eventually answered back, when five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita could not defuse a high ball and from the ensuing scrum, Roosters wing Daniel Tupou scored on the end of a backline movement.
Through the second half, the Warriors still had their chances and were denied a try, when Walsh lost the ball in a tackle over the tryline, centre Jesse Arthars forced, but officials ruled against a possible high tackle or strip by the tackle, and in favour of a knock-on by Walsh.
That could have given them a 14-8 lead early in the second half, but instead, Watene-Zelezniak spilled a high kick at the other end for Naiqama's try.
The Warriors missed enforcer Matt Lodge, ruled out by injury, and struggled to contain the Roosters' middle forwards.
"When you're coming off your tryline and not generating any ruck speed, it is hard to inject yourself and add your bit in controlling the game," said Johnson. "We haven't had that problem - our middles have been pretty good to start the year, so today was different for us in that sense.
"We will look at ourselves and improve, but I just think, mentally, to start the second half the way we did was really disappointing."
The Warriors can't count on a cushy bounceback in their next encounter either, with powerhouse Melbourne Storm waiting on ANZAC Monday.
Sydney Roosters 22 (Tupou, Walker & Naiqama tries, Walker 3 conversions & 2 penalties) NZ Warriors 14 (Kosi & Watene-Zelezniak tries, Walsh penalty & 2 conversions)
