After a week built around shoring up their defence, the Warriors delivered when it counted, grinding out a clutch 22-20 golden point win over the Brisbane Broncos in front of a jubilant Auckland crowd.
The Warriors and Broncos finished locked at 18-18 at the 80-minute mark before Reese Walsh put the kick-off over the dead ball line.
Luke Metcalf stepped up on the ensuing 50m penalty in the first minute of golden point to secure victory.
Halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita described the close victory against Brisbane as an "important win".
"The Broncos have a big forward pack in Payne Haas and [Patrick] Carrigan. We knew we needed to be up to the task," Harris-Tavita said.
A golden point penalty kick edges out the Broncos and elevates the Wahs to number three on the NRL ladder. (Source: 1News)
"We work really hard on the game, and sometimes you don't get a result, but when you work hard and get the result, it's satisfying."
Taine Tuaupiki, stepping in at fullback for the injured Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, said bouncing back from last week's 42-18 loss to Melbourne made the result even sweeter.
"Everyone knows Melbourne is a top-four side, and everyone's probably got Broncos in there as well. To be given two points against them is mean anytime of the year."
Tuaupiki credited the team's "next-man up mentality" for the resilience shown throughout the match.
"Everyone's just got to do their job."
The Warriors' improved defence was a clear focus throughout the week.
Lock Erin Clark said the week had been built around defence.
"We can attack, but defence last week was rubbish, so we were better tonight."
The game also marked a personal milestone for 19-year-old Leka Halasima, who made his first NRL start and impressed with a try, 23 tackles, and nearly 100 metres.
"It was good to get that two points, it was a good grind from the boys, Halasima told 1News.
Coach Andrew Webster was pleased with the effort, saying the Warriors "looked the better team" for long stretches of the match.
"We weren't the smartest team at times, but we were certainly the hungrier team tonight," he said.
With the win, the Warriors move to 4-2 on the season and sit inside the top four.
They next face the 14th-placed Newcastle Knights in Christchurch on Anzac Day, Friday.
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