The Warriors sealed their emotional return home with a 22-2 win over the Wests Tigers against an exhausted Mt Smart Stadium.
It was 1,038 days since they last played at home (round 24, 2019) after the Covid-19 forced the Warriors to move to Australia.
An emotional Tohu Harris led the team in front of a roaring crowd.
“This place is fine,” Fox League commentator Brenton Speed said.
“Hey, it was something special. This is a semi-final experience running out at home … now is the time to play,” added Shane Flanagan.
It was the first time in eight years that the Warriors had maintained zero opposition at Mt Smart Stadium.
STARTING CENTER: Warriors vs Tigers live score, stats, video
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74TH MINUTE
Jesse Arthurs sealed the Warriors victory with a corner kick. Shaun Johnson made the conversion to reach the 1,200 top-tier points, which took him to fourth place in every point of every New Zealand player.
MINUTE 39
The Tigers put themselves on the board with a penalty goal after a late shot over Jackson Hastings.
MINUTE 32
The Warriors extended their lead through Chanel Harris-Tavita, who played on the sidelines. Harris-Tavita crossed a Shaun Johnson cross.
28TH MINUTE
Wayde Egan set up Warriors skipper Tohu Harris to score in front of a large local audience.
MINUTE 24
The Warriors scored the first points through a penalty goal from Shaun Johnson.
10TH MINUTE
It looked as if the Warriors had scored the first attempt at a proper start to the game when Wayde Egan came out of the fictitious half, but the bunker overturned him.
MATCH FORECAST
The Warriors will not have star winger Reece Walsh due to the Covid-19 with Chanel Harris-Tavita switching to the winger to replace him.
Adam Pompey was not initially named at 17, but will line up in the centers, allowing Euan Aitken to move to the second row and Jack Murchie to leave the side.
Addin Fonua-Blake, who only came out of Covid-19 isolation that day, has returned to the bench with Aaron Pene to start, while Tohu Harris has been changed to block.
The Tigers will be without Captain James Tamou due to a calf strain. Alex Seyfarth becomes a starter and training and testing striker Austin Dias will make his NRL debut from the bench.
Dias joins Fonua Pole, who is also making his NRL debut, while veteran center James Roberts has returned after successfully returning to the NSW Cup in round 15.
The Warriors will hope the emotional comeback helps them break a seven-game losing streak. But they face an equally desperate Tigers team, who have only won one of their last seven games.
EQUIPMENT
Warriors: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Jesse Arthars 18. Adam Pompey 5. Marcelo Montoya 6. Ronald Volkman 7. Shaun Johnson 20. Aaron Pene 9. Wayde Egan 10. Jazz Tevaga 4. Euan Aitken 13. Josh Curran 12. Tohu Harris 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 15. Bunty Afoa 17. Bayley Sironen 22. Freddy Lussick. Substitute: 16. Eliesa Katoa
Tigers: 1. Daine Laurie 2. David Nofoaluma 3. Starford Toa 4. James Roberts 5. Ken Maumalo 6. Luke Brooks 7. Jackson Hastings 16. Alex Seyfarth 9. Fa’amanu Brown 10. Zane Musgrove 11. Luke Garner 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Joe Ofahengaue 14. Stefano Utoikamanu 15. Adam Doueihi 17. Fonua Pole 20. Austin Dias. Substitute: 21. Jacob Liddle
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