NRL Finals – Week 2

Correspondent

A dramatic last minute score from Krisnan Inu helped the New Zealand Warriors steal a 22-20 victory over the beleaguered Wests Tigers.

Barnstorming prop Keith Galloway charged over for the Tigers with 16 minutes gone before the elusive Benji Marshall added to their lead from close range.

Kevin Locke’s burst from dummy-half saw James Maloney gallop over to reduce the deficit to 12-6, until Robbie Farah’s trademark score extended the Tigers’ advantage.

Shaun Johnson’s well-timed pass to Feleti Mateo put the Warriors back into the hunt after the break, but Marshall’s penalty seemed to kill off the New Zealanders’ hopes.

That was until Lance Hohaia darted over from dummy-half, setting up a tense finish, which came when Inu collected a spilled Lote Tuqiri bomb to squeeze the ball over the line.

A golden point field goal from skipper Darren Lockyer was enough to secure Brisbane a 13-12 victory over St George and preliminary final spot against Manly.

Ben Teo’s close range try was all the separated the teams at the break, despite the Broncos dominating possession during the first forty minutes.

After Corey Parker had extended the Broncos lead with a penalty, Dragons prop Adam Cuthbertson weighed in with a try to haul the visitors back into the contest.

Dale Copley looked to have won Brisbane the game with a long-range try with less than 15 minutes remaining, until former Bronco Darius Boyd raced through the defensive line in the last minute.

Jamie Soward kept his head to land the pressure kick and send the game into golden point but Lockyer stepped in with his late heroics to keep the Broncos’ hopes of premiership glory alive.

NRL