Stand-in fullback Taine Tuaupiki has guided a makeshift NZ Warriors line-up to an upset 22-20 victory over three-time defending champions Penrith Panthers in NRL 'Magic Round' at Brisbane.
Winless in their last five games and reeling with injuries, the Auckland side showed their steel to snatch the win, with Tuaupiki scoring a late try to level the scores and kicking the conversion from wide out to put his side ahead for good.
With the seconds counting down, Panthers fullback Dylan Edward had a chance to force 'Golden Point' with a penalty attempt from in front of the posts, but sliced his kick, leaving the Warriors to burn time until the final siren.
With so many of their veteran players sidelined by injury, their replacements simply fulfilled the 'next man up' mentality preached by coach Andrew Webster, creating some selection dilemmas, as those frontliners return.
The Panthers wasted no time imposing themselves, when Tuaupiki conceded a penalty at the opening kickoff and Edwards crossing for a try after little more than a minute.
Already riddled with injuries, the Warriors lost second-rower Jackson Ford to a head wound, exposing their inexperienced bench early. Then, they lost hooker Wayde Egan to a concussion check.
Ford would return, Egan would not.
Penrith went close, when half Jarome Luai kicked to the tryline and Tuaupiki barely beat second-rower Liam Martin to the force. Moments later, centre Izack Tago gathered a loose pass to scamper away, but was called back for a knockon.
The Warriors were creating half chances and seemed to lack the finesse to finish them off, but they had a prime opportunity, when Panthers winger Brian To'o fumbled a high kick from Te Maire Martin on his line.
With the ensuing set, makeshift five-eighth Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad found Marcelo Montoya with a long pass and the winger kept everything in play, as he dived over in the corner.
When he left the field with a gammy shoulder, the makeshift backline became even more so, but fortunately, he would return.
The deadlock was broken, when Luai broke from inside his own half, found second-rower Scott Sorenson in support and stayed available for the return pass to score an 80-metre effort.
With halftime looming, the Warriors were hot on attack, desperately trying to find a way through, but died with the ball on the siren.
Trailling 10-4, they made their intentions clear with the first set of the second half, with Nicoll-Klokstad breaking up centrefield, but dying with the ball.
When they received a penalty, Penrith lock Isaah Yeo was sin-binned for the professional foul. From the scrum, half Te Maire Martin put centre Ali Leiataua through a gap to score and Tuaupiki's conversion levelled the scores.
With Yeo still cooling his heels, the Warriors snatched the lead, when another Panthers mistake put them on attack and Martin went the other way, sending centre Adam Pompey through for a try.
Returning to the game, Yeo put his spell on the sideline to good affect, exploiting a stretched defence to score near the posts, and the contest was level again.
With 20 minutes left, momentum seemed to have turned to the titleholders and when winger Sunia Turuva headed for the cornerflag, Tuaupiki needed a high tackle to stop him.
As pressure built, centre Izack Tago ghosted through a space to score and regain the lead, but Edwards' missed conversion left the door ajar.
Penrith prop James Fisher-Harris was booked for a dangerous tackle on Dylan Walker and from the penalty, Martin held up a pass, before putting Tuaupiki across. His conversion grazed the inside of the upright to put the Warriors ahead with seven minutes left.
When winger Brian To'o broke a tackle and offloaded inside Warriors half, they conceded a penalty in front of the posts, but Edwards sliced his kick at goal, with only 20 seconds left to burn.
"It means a lot, it really does," reflected Martin. "Having some of our big boys out - Tohu [Harris] our captain, Shauny [Johnson] obviously and our really big dog, Rocco Berry - it's a credit to the boys.
"We were confident all week we could put on a good performance, if we just did our gameplan. Webby, coming from Penrith, had a few things up his sleeve.
"It helped when Yeo went off - I think we had two tries, when he was off.
"We're stoked. We've been in a bit of a rut for a few weeks, so to come out with a win over a side like Penrith is huge."
The Warriors are now just three points outside the top eight playoff spots and have a chance to build on this result, when they host the Dolphins at Go Media Stadium next Sunday.
NZ Warriors 22 (Montoya, Leiataua, Pompey, Tuaupiki tries; Tuaupiki 3 conversions) Penrith Panthers 20 (Edwards, Luai, Yeo, Tago tries; Edwards 2 conversions)
