The NZ Warriors have slipped from second on the NRL table with a listless 18-6 defeat to Canterbury Bulldogs in Sydney.<\/p>\n
The home side rocked the visitors early with back-to-back tries to skipper Stephen Crichton and second-rower Jacob Preston inside the opening 11 minutes, and the Warriors could not find an answer in the first half.<\/p>\n
Trailing 12-0 at the break, they needed to score next, but repeatedly shot themselves in the foot with mistakes, as they barely threatened the tryline.<\/p>\n
Instead, Bulldogs wing Jacob Kiraz found the corner to extend the Bulldogs advantage.<\/p>\n
Warriors wing Dallin Watene-Zelezniak had his chances and eventually crossed in the corner, but had his try disallowed for a forward past.<\/p>\n
Still scoreless with six minutes remaining, the Warriors finally found the scoreboard, when front-rower Mitch Barnett kicked on the last tackle and five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita gathered the bounce for a try.<\/p>\n
The result means they now slide to third on the competition ladder and they also face several worrying injuries, with fullback Taine Tuaupiki limping off during the first half with a foot complaint.<\/p>\n