28 Jun 2010

Locke puts his body on the line

6:31 am on 28 June 2010

Kevin Locke scored the most courageous match-winning try of the National Rugby League season to lift the Warriors to a 20-18 last gasp win in Christchurch.

The speedy little winger had already scored two tries when put his body on the line when at top speed he managed to touch down his own kick a split second before crashing into the left-upright.

The movement began 45 metres out with a precise Lance Hohaia grubber kick and finished with Locke writhing in pain on the ground after he bent his leg around the goal-post .

He managed a wave as he was taken off on a stretcher to hospital with what appeared to be a serious hip injury.

The Roosters led 18-8 with six minutes to go, but the other wing. Manu Vatuvei, scored and James Maloney converted from the sideline to bring the Warriors to within a converted try.

The Warriors are ninth, in a group of five teams on 18 points, but they're only two behind the fourth placed Titans. who were beaten 24-16 by Newcastle on the Gold Coast

The Parramatta Eels are up on Sunday in Auckland