The Warriors paid for another late meltdown on Saturday as Canterbury ran them down in the second spell to win an absorbing NRL match in Wellington 24-16.

Late tries to Ben Barba and Josh Morris pushed the visitors clear after they had trailed 16-0 inside the first half-hour, 16-6 at halftime and 16-12 with seven minutes remaining.

Three sideline conversions from halfback Trent Hodkinson also proved decisive, silencing a record crowd at Westpac Stadium as the Warriors took their first competition home game outside Auckland.

Tries to Manu Vatuvei, Thomas Leuluai and Glen Fisiiahi gave the crowd of 30,112 – a record for any rugby league match in Wellington – reason for confidence.

However, the visitors replied through captain Michael Ennis before the break and their command of possession took its toll as the second half unfolded.

Sam Perrett crossed soon after the break before Barba and Josh Reynolds punished the Warriors for late lapses, something that has become a glaring trend for the New Zealand club this season.

The Warriors sank to a seventh loss from nine matches while the Bulldogs notched a fourth victory and their third in succession, coinciding with the return of several key players from injury.

Their bigger forward pack took control in the second half, led by James Graham and Josh Jackson, while Vatuvei was the Warriors’ standout, capping a week in which the veteran winger signed with the club for a further two seasons.

A poor record in Wellington continues for the Warriors.

They failed to win any of the five matches “hosted” by other clubs in the capital from 2001 to 2004. Four of those games were against the Bulldogs.