Ok peeps here it is for ya'll to read.
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Memorable
Sunday April 29th 2007 must go down in history as the most confusing and heart-pounding NRL match of the year and if not the century. From a position of utter strength, the Warriors had shot themselves in the foot, not from playing badly but from incompetence of the match officials. As Michael Witt and Nathan Fien had legitimate four-pointers disallowed, a few fans may have had flashing memories of the 2005 late round clash with the Sydney Roosters. In that match, at least four trys failed to be awarded with some of the most bamboozling decisions. At this critical stage, the Warriors looked to be:
Out on their feet as every decision in the book went against them, the Roosters adding further salt into open wounds as they piled on the points. It is said no one then would have given the Warriors a chance of coming back. In the last two years, they have played well and won or just self-destructed into thin air. This did not turn out to be the case. As the Roosters started to relax and fall on their heels thinking they had the match won the Warriors mounted their comeback. Playing simple football and not attempting to over-play their hand, they put on the points. A try constructed from easy hit-ups, quick play the balls and smart dummy-half running saw them gain momentum. Out of nothing really, halfback-turned hooker Lance Hohaia bounded over then not more then two minutes later fullback Brent Webb out-sprinted everyone including the games elite fullback Anthony Minichiello to get across the line. Finally, in the last few minutes Hohaia broke Roosters hearts when he dived over after equally good breaks from two previous play the balls.
Fast-forward onto last Sundays game and it is fairly easy to recognize the signs from this game to the match in 2005. Down 16-8 with not much more then ten minutes on the clock, again experts and fans alike resigned to the obvious. A third straight loss on the road. However much like catch-cry of 05, the Warriors did not overplay their hand and went back to playing simple footy. Its how they had previous constructed their wins so far in 2007. By peeling off a simple off-load as Steve Price does he put his team on the front foot and gave a brilliant open opportunity to Wade McKinnon to score. Not only did he pull it off but also it set alight the next few minutes, and with just under five minutes to go a 2-point loss at least didnt look as bad as before. However, this Warriors team was far from finished and despite blowing a chance on the outside, they put the pressure of the Rabbitohs and got what they desired. An error. Surely, surely not. Could they do it? Almost as if a miracle fell from the sky, the Warriors did it. 40 seconds on the clock and they once again broke hearts across the Tasman in Sydney.
Another memorable moment still fresh in the minds of fans is their August-round match in 2006 against the Melbourne Storm. Here was one heck of a mouth-watering game with two clubs not Sydney based and both with a history of finals football. Everyone out rightly assumed the Storm would walk over the Warriors:
Take them to the dry cleaners a term expressed prior to the match. Once again, the Warriors proved they could overcome any hurdle thrown in their path. It wasnt a game filled with as much controversy as previous games but it still provided the same epic and heart-wrenching feelings.
Even more dramatic came in early 05 when the Warriors went up to Newcastle, with the Knights struggling to stamp their authority on the competition even with the worlds best player at the helm. A memorable match too this one was, as not only did the Warriors come from behind to beat the odds. A mirror image as the Warriors also snatched victory in the final seconds
It is amazing to think how much the changing of the guard has affected this team since 1995. From virtual no-hopes into a team, many fear to come up against. Despite losing much of their talented, sparkle since their Harlem Glob-Trotter days, they are still showing signs of it in little glimpses. They know they dont need to use it in 80minutes of hard-hitting football, just at the most unusual and unlikely of moments their flamboyant creativeness comes to the fore.
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If you think there cane be some changes...etc please let me know and I'll fix it a.s.a.p
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