Warriors coach Matthew Elliott hailed his side's 23-12 victory over the Sydney Roosters as one of the most courageous in his time in rugby league.

It's a big statement from the veteran mentor, who began coaching top-level rugby league in England 16 years ago.

But considering how far his team has come since copping a 56-point record thrashing to Penrith last month, you can understand what he means.

Since that dark day, when Elliott hooked halfback Shaun Johnson with half an hour to play in the biggest loss in the club's history, the Warriors have won four straight, including back-to-back victories over top four sides Manly and the Roosters.

"In the courage stakes and effort stakes it's as good as I can remember," Elliott said.

"We had to come up with some special stuff."

Special plays? The Warriors had plenty.

You can start with two near-length-of-the-field efforts from Glen Fisiiahi and Manu Vatuvei which snatched and then extended their game-winning lead.

Throw in halfback Johnson, who carried a groin injury into the game, chasing down noted speedster Michael Jennings as he raced away in the first half seemingly destined to score his ninth try of the year.

Or Fisiiahi, again, coming up with the miraculous when he managed to spectacularly dislodge the ball from Shaun Kenny-Dowall's grasp when the New Zealand international was over the tryline and about to level the scores.

"Michael Jennings is pretty quick and Shaun ran him down from behind which was pretty special," Elliott said.

"And I think the police have been called in Fish' for pick pocketing.

"It was one helluva of a play and a game-changing play."

While the Panthers debacle is an easy reference point to identify the Warriors' remarkable mid-season revival, Elliott says to isolate it is to oversimplify their year to date.

"People don't often talk about the six weeks prior, where we were building," Elliott said.

"The six weeks prior where we were leading into the 70th minute and didn't win.

"...We've just recognised what works for us. The Penrith game really caught our attention."

It was a frustrating loss for the Roosters, who wasted another top-shelf performance from star back-rower Sonny Bill Williams.

Williams sparked a two-try blitz in the final five minutes of the first half to give the home side a two-point lead at the break.

But they spent the remaining 75 minutes shooting themselves in the foot with poor fifth-tackle options and uncharacteristically frantic footy.

"We were looking to score on most plays, which doesn't work," coach Trent Robinson said.

Captain Anthony Minichiello, who was ruled to have thrown a forward pass to Mitchell Aubusson on what would have been a try-of-the-year contender, agreed that his team lacked composure in the clutch moments.

"We were just a bit frantic on tackle four or five, and that filters through the team," Minichiello said.

"We all got the try-happy bug which doesn't work."

Earlier, the visiting side started strongly with Elijah Taylor and Ngani Laumape crossing for the game's opening two tries.