’Unbelievable’ try stuns NRL as Warriors gatecrash Raiders’ party

It was meant to be Jarrod Croker’s night but a freakish act of brilliance from a Warriors star has ruined the Canberra legend’s night.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, you're a magician. Photo: Fox Sports

Jarrod Croker’s 300th game has been spoiled as his Canberra Raiders suffered a 36-14 loss in a masterful performance by the New Zealand Warriors.

The emotion was flowing for Croker before the game as Canberra turned out to celebrate one of its favourite sons.

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But while the Warriors showed respect to Croker before the match, the side just bided its time before ruining the party.

Riding on emotion, the Raiders had all the territory in the early stages but were turned away by the Warriors’ resolute defence.

With the Raiders leading 6-0 in the 32nd minute, the Warriors then flipped the script.

On the last tackle 10m out, the Warriors went to the right with Shaun Johnson kicking for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.

The kick looked far too long but Watene-Zelezniak shocked everyone, getting up high to catch the ball before grounding it centimetres inside the dead ball line.

What a leap from DWZ. Photo: Fox Sports

Incredible athleticism from the winger. Photo: Fox Sports

“You see it but you can’t believe it,” Dan Ginnane yelled.

“How has he contorted himself? Even for Dallin Watene-Zelezniak that is quite simply unbelievable.

“That’s out of this world.”

Steve Roach called it “a magnificent take”.

“You won’t see anything better than that,” Roach added.

WHAT A TRY FROM DWZ! Always been a great finisher, good to see him back playing some of his best footy. #NRLRaidersWarriors

— Josh Mansour (@Josh_Mansour) June 9, 2023

DWZ WOW...

— The Mole (@9_Moley) June 9, 2023

It levelled the game up at 6-all and even though the Raiders went to the break leading 8-6, it seemed like the Warriors had survived the storm.

As the emotion wore off the longer the game went, the Warriors went to work against the tiring Raiders, running in five second half tries to pull off the 22-point win.

Croker didn’t deserve to lose like that. Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The result adds Croker to an unwanted list of one-club 300-gamers who have lost the milestone game, but he’s in good company.

Fox League sideline reporter Matt Russell said late in the game Croker became just the 18th player to play 300 games at one club, but only six of the 18 have celebrated with a win.

Cameron Smith, Andrew Ettinghausen, Mitch Aubusson, Luke Ricketson, Simon Mannering and Cooper Cronk are the only one-club 300-gamers to have claimed a victory in the milestone game.

But he said “more often than not, 300-games at one club spells doom when it comes to celebrating that occasion.”

Originally published as ’Unbelievable’ try stuns NRL as Warriors gatecrash Raiders’ party