NZ Warriors have survived a stern examination from NRL cellar-dwellers Wests Tigers, ultimately emerging 30-22 winners at Hamilton.
Bringing their home game across the Tasman to thank the Warriors for their COVID-pandemic sacrifices, the Tigers threatened to ambush their run to the playoffs, drawing within four points midway through the second half and then appearing to score a potential go-ahead try.
After a video review, the try was ruled out by referee Chris Butler, and the Warriors scored the next two tries to ease clear for good, extending their winning streak to five games.
Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak signalled his intent early, when he was barely tripped into touch, as he flew towards the corner in the fourth minute.
Moments later, Luke Metcalf had the first try, when captain Tohu Harris slipped a subtle short pass to Mitch Barnett on halfway and the five-eighth loomed in support to score.
The Tigers had a chance to respond immediately, when Barnett spilled the ball inside his own 10, but their set ended harmlessly in a tackle metres out.
Centre Adam Pompey was next to score for the Warriors, when half Shaun Johnson found him with a flat pass and he overpowered the last defenders from short range. Curiously, Pompey also took over kicking responsibilities from Johnson for the rest of the game.
Barnett presented Wests with another chance, with an identical drop from the kickoff, and half Dane Laurie found centre Starford To'a for their opening try.
Laurie set up the second, when he split the defence on his own 30 and found half Luke Brooks in support. Koroisau converted to draw level, as the Warriors regrouped behind their posts midway through the first half.
After an early blow to his head, concussion-prone Warriors hooker Wayde Egan copped a leading elbow to his throat, as he tried to tackle Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu, and had to leave the field prematurely. Bayley Sironen took over dummy-half duties.
Metcalf appeared to have his double, when Johnson dribbled a kick along the ground and centre Rocco Berry gathered to put his five-eighth over, but Butler correctly ruled him offside at the kick.
After a tap penalty near the Tigers line, Watene-Zelezniak flew into the corner, barely forcing the ball before obliterating the flag.
The Warriors carried a 16-12 lead into the halftime break, with news that Egan had passed his head examination, but left for hospital to assess the throat injury.
After the restart, Johnson threatened to break the Tigers line, but Pompey died with the ball on the last tackle. Replacement forward Jazz Tevaga drove himself over the tryline, but was held up.
Several set restarts and redzone penalties created pressure that eventually tolled on Wests, as Harris lunged over for his second try of the season.
After laying on two tries, Laurie had one for himself, when fullback Jahream Bula broke down the right and found the five-eighth inside him, as the competition stragglers threatened an upset.
Former Warriors forward Isaiah Papali'i seemed to put them ahead, when he chased Brooks' high kick and received the final pass, but reviews showed he had knocked on in his pursuit of the ball.
Butler was tough on the Tigers for high tackles and from one of those indiscretions, Johnson snatched the kicking tee back and slotted an angled penalty that provided a little more breathing room for the Warriors.
Johnson threatened a field goal on the last tackle and sent second-rower Jackson Ford to the line, but he was tripped up just short.
On the next possession, Johnson found prop Addin Fonua-Blake with another flat ball that send him under the crossbar, capping a performance that realised a game-high 262 running metres and seven tacklebreaks.
Wests were not done, with Laurie providing another assist for To'a's second try of the night. Captain Api Koroisau hit the upright with a conversion that would have put his side within a converted try with two minutes on the clock.
They threw the ball around desperately, looking for another try, but second-rower Shawn Blore lost the ball to end their hopes.
"It was definitely a hard night out there," admitted Harris. "The Tigers, all credit to them, came to play, threw the ball around, and really tested us with their shapes and stuff.
"We certainly got tested out there. We need to work harder in certain areas, but it's always hard getting the two points and I'm glad we got them."
The performance comes off the back of two unconvincing wins over Canberra Raiders, when they needed a goldenpoint field goal from Johnson, and Gold Coast Titans, locked at 18-18 late and described as ugly by coach Andrew Webster.
The result will keep the Warriors in the top three for another week, four points adrift of champions Penrith Panthers and Brisbane Broncos, but still clear of their nearest challengers - Cronulla Sharks, Melbourne Storm and Canberra Raiders.
They face a soft run into the post-season, but on Friday, they host Manly Sea Eagles - a team that can still sneak into the top eight over the next three weeks.
NZ Warriors 30 (Metcalf, Pompey, Watene-Zelezniak, Harris & Fonua-Blake tries; Johnson conversion & penalty, Pompey 3 conversions) Wests Tigers 22 (To'a 2, Brook & Laurie tries; Koroisau 3 conversions)
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