It’s their third consecutive defeat and compounds the pain of last week’s late shock against the Dolphins.
The home side played perfect wet weather football, while nothing went right for the Warriors, with mistakes, indiscipline and more casualties.
The biggest turning point was the loss of halfback Te Maire Martin – who had been a late switch for Tanah Boyd – in the 23rd minute with concussion, which forced a major reshuffle, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad going to five-eighth. They also lost Leka Halasima and Kurt Capewell to HIA assessments, though both returned.
The result leaves the Warriors outside the top four for the first time since mid-April and at long odds to get back in.
The damage was done in the first half, where the Bulldogs were completely dominant, with a grinding territorial game. The Warriors had only 33% possession (12 sets to 25) and used up so much petrol. They were outmuscled, gave up some crucial errors and suffered with the long kicking game of Matt Burton.
Referee Adam Gee made some weird decisions, though the Warriors had to be smarter.
Coach Andrew Webster made a significant game day change, with Martin in and Boyd dropped. It was a questionable call given the conditions, with a heavy surface and incessant rain and the Warriors missed the long kicking game that Boyd offers. Hooker Freddie Lussick was also promoted to start with Sam Healey back to the interchange.
After the teams traded early penalties, the Bulldogs gradually gained momentum. Taine Tuaupiki was pinged – somewhat bizarrely – for an incorrect goal line dropout – while an attempted Chanel Harris-Tavita fifth tackle kick cannoned straight into the defensive line.
A second Crichton penalty edged the home side ahead, before Viliame Kikau burrowed his way over from close range. Martin was hurt in the sequence just before the try – as he made a tackle – and was escorted off the field.
It went from bad to worse, with his replacement Halasima off for an HIA after his first carry, following a collision with Lachie Galvin, which forced another reshuffle.
Things began to unravel fast, as Dallin Watene-Zelezniak messed up a play the ball, with Jethro Rinakama crossing in the right corner minutes later. The feeling of doom was only compounded when referee Gee ignored what looked a blatant Bulldogs shepherd five minutes before halftime and the Warriors burned their captain’s challenge by disputing it.
The Bulldogs built more pressure – forcing another goal line dropout and six agains – before making room for Enari Tuala to dive over out wide.
Crichton got a strong individual try in the 49th minute – ending any remote hopes of a comeback – before Healey made his own luck to score off a grubber five minutes later. The Warriors got more ball but never looked that dangerous, while their kicking game was noticeably limited.
Another handling error led to Tuala’s second try, as he stepped back across the grain and through some weak defence, before Roger Tuivasa-Sheck grabbed an intercept for a late consolation try.
Bulldogs 32 (Viliame Kikau, Jethro Rinakama, Enari Tuala 2, Stephen Crichton tries; Crichton 3 cons, 3 pens)
Warriors 14 (Samuel Healey, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck tries; Adam Pompey 2 cons, pen)
HT: 20-2
