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| Michael Witt celebrates the match winner [GALLO/GETTY] |
The New Zealand Warriors have become the first eighth-placed team to upset a first-placed side in the opening round of Australia's National Rugby League finals series.
The Warriors overcame the odds to beat the Melbourne Storm 18-15 on Sunday.
Five eighth Michael Witt scored a last-minute try, to prevent the defending premiers from getting a bye next weekend and instead forcing them into a sudden-death semifinal at Brisbane next Saturday.
It was the first time since the current playoff format was devised in 1999 that an eighth-placed team had beaten the minor premier.
Sea Eagles and Sharks earn break
Manly and Cronulla earned the right to a weekend off and will advance directly to the preliminary finals.
Three first-half tries by winger Misi Taulapapa gave Cronulla a 36-10 win over Canberra while Manly trounced St.George Illawarra 38-6.
Brisbane came back from a 12-point first-half deficit to beat the Sydney Roosters 24-16 and set up the meeting with Melbourne.
In the other semifinal next weekend, the Warriors will host the Roosters at Auckland on Friday.
Melbourne looked to have done enough to scrape through the close contest with the Warriors when Greg Inglis slotted a field goal for the Storm with 12 minutes remaining.
But the New Zealanders launched repeated attacks, and Jerome Ropati and Manu Vatuvei combined before Witt took the ball and raced to the line for the winning try.
Orford 'building'
Manly captain Matt Orford praised his side's defensive effort against the Dragons.
"It's just a long way to go, we cannot get carried away yet,'' said Orford.
"Things are building quietly and we need to make sure we are right for the game the following week.''
Cronulla's Taulapapa, who had only scored two tries all season before Saturday, doubled his 2008 tally by the 12th minute before crashing over for his third in the 35th in the Sharks' seven-tries-to-two victory over Canberra.
The Raiders were then eliminated from the finals when the Warriors stunned the rugby league community with their victory as it meant the Raiders were ranked alongside the Dragons as the first week’s two lowest ranked losers.
Brisbane survived a bruising first-half against an aggressive Roosters side and responded with second-half tries to Denan Kemp, David Stagg and Tonie Carroll.
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