The Warriors have come up short in a topsy-turvy NRL-W match against the West Tigers in Sydney on Sunday afternoon.
A try to interchange player Fathye Manera and two goals from impressive Kiwi Ferns halfback Raecene McGregor, inside the last five minutes, sealed the victory for the Tigers 30-22.
The loss sees the Warriors drop to sixth on the ladder with a four-win, three-loss record.
McGregor’s game management and goal kicking were a key feature in the game, and it did not take her long to impose herself, as she set up the first try for the Tigers after just 12 minutes, when fullback Caitlin Turnbull gathered a well-measured kick on the last tackle from McGregor, to jump out to a 6-0 lead.
They doubled that lead six minutes later, after winger Lily Rogan finished off a well executed shift to the left edge. The try was also converted by McGregor.
The Tigers continued their early dominance when Rogan went in for a double just a couple of minutes later, after finishing off another sweeping move.
But rather than dropping their heads, despite being down 16-0, the Warriors showed some heart and courage, after winning back-to-back penalties with eight minutes left in the first half.
Winger Tysha Ikenasio dotted down in the corner to get the Warriors on the board, and they followed it up with two more tries inside the final two minutes of the first half.
Centre Stacey Waaka scored the first of them hitting an inside pass from Emma Paki with perfect timing, to surge over to score.
A sensational third try came right on the halftime hooter, when Paki finished off an 80 metre effort, set up by fullback Apii Nicholls and lock Kaiyah Atai.
That saw the Warriors narrow the gap to 16-12 at the break.
But the Tigers hit the reset button nicely during halftime, and began the second half in fine style, with a try to centre Namoe Gesa.
The try was again converted by McGregor, whose goalkicking was now becoming a crucial factor in the scoreline, with three successes from four attempts, while the Warriors’ Patricia Maliepo had missed all three of hers.
But just like in the first half, the Warriors fought back.
Down 22-12, they scored back-to-back tries through Ikenasio, who went in her for second, and Atai who powered over.
Maliepo finally found her kicking boots to convert Atai’s try, and suddenly the score was 22-22.
But the Warriors could not hang on, as Manera’s converted try eased the Tigers clear again, before McGregor had the final say with a late penalty.