NZ Warriors have backed up their gusty win over the reigning premier Penrith Panthers with perhaps an even grittier performance in a 24-20 victory over the Dolphins in Auckland.
Despite a laundry list of injury absences too long to mention - exacerbated by the late withdrawals of Taine Tuaupiki (baby duty) and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (illness) - the hosts responded to an early ten-point deficit to battle their way to a second straight win and send the sold-out One Media Stadium home beaming.
Stand-in skipper Mitchell Barnett led the way with an inspirational captain's knock, while Te Maire Martin showed out yet again with another brilliant all-round display in the No. 7 jersey.
The visitors began in ominous fashion, with Kodi Nikorima creating space for Jamayane Isaako to soar into the corner in the fourth minute to open the scoring.
Ten minutes later off the back of a 40/20, centre Herbie Farnworth made amends for a blown try moments earlier by stepping his way over the chalk after collecting a loose ball to extend the Dolphins' lead.
Starved of field position, the Warriors finally made their mark in the 21st minute, when Martin's bomb was collected by Marcelo Montoya and smartly offloaded to Chanel Harris-Tavita bursting back on the angle to dot down.
The Dolphins' reply came swiftly courtesy of more superb work by Farnworth, who split the defence near halfway and set Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow sail to the chalk.
The Warriors replied in turn through Martin, who dummied and stepped his way under the crossbar with an impressive individual effort.
That effort took the contest to 16-12 in favour of the Dolphins, a score which stood through to the halftime break.
After a torrid back-and-forth through the third quarter, it was the Warriors who struck first, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak showing great strength to wrestle the ball down in the tackle at close range. Adam Ponmpey's conversion gave the Warriors the lead for the first time in the match, up 18-16 with 20 minutes to play.
The hosts kept the pressure on through Martin's boot, setting the stage for a barnstorming run from the returning Marata Nikuore, grazing the chalk to extend the advantage to eight points with 12 minutes to play.
Nikorima's grubber connected with a charging Isaako in the corner with five minutes to play to set up a nerve-wracking finish for the Warriors faithful.
But the Warriors were clinical at the death, closing out their fifth win of the season heading into next weekend's bye.
NZ Warriors 24 (Harris-Tavita, Martin, Watene-Zelezniak, Niukore tries; Pompey 4 con) Dolphins 20 (Isaako, Farnworth, Tabuai-Fidow 26 tries; Isaako 2 con)
