Warriors Unleash Second-Half Blitz to Dismantle Raiders
The New Zealand Warriors have kicked off their National Rugby League (NRL) season in spectacular fashion, building on a commanding Round 1 victory with another dominant performance at Go Media Stadium in Auckland. Following their impressive 42-18 triumph over the Sydney Roosters, the Warriors put on a clinic against the Canberra Raiders on Friday night, securing a resounding 40-6 win in what were wet but surprisingly warm conditions.
This marks a significant achievement for the club, representing only the fourth time in their history that they have managed to win their opening two matches of the season. More impressively, they achieved this milestone with a display of sheer dominance, running in seven unanswered tries, with a remarkable six of those coming in a relentless second-half onslaught.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster expressed his satisfaction, noting the team’s improved performance. “We definitely played better; we had an NRL game to review,” Webster stated. He credited the intensity of their reserve grade team in training for pushing the first-grade squad. “Our reserve grade put us under pressure in training, which is what we needed. They had a great win. It was a really high performance.” Despite the emphatic win, Webster emphasised the team’s grounded approach. “We’re all grounded after last week. I thought we earned everything tonight; we made our own luck.”
The match, however, didn’t unfold entirely according to plan for the home side in its early stages. A concerning moment arose when second-rower Kurt Capewell sustained a suspected torn calf, forcing a reshuffle of the line-up. Leka Halasima was promoted to the starting team, with Morgan Gannon moving to the bench. The Raiders then drew first blood in the fourth minute when fullback Kaeo Weekes executed a clever scoot around the defence to open the scoring. Ethan Sanders added the conversion, giving Canberra an early 6-0 lead.
Adding to the Warriors’ early woes, Chanel Harris-Tavita was forced from the field in the ninth minute following heavy contact from a charging Noah Martin. Coach Webster later confirmed the extent of the injury, stating, “He’s fine in there; he’s laughing right now, but he wasn’t laughing at the time. He’s out for next week.”
Despite the setbacks, the Warriors’ resilience shone through. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak brought the home crowd to their feet in the 14th minute, scoring their first try. A subsequent penalty goal from Tanah Boyd ensured the scores were locked at 6-6 heading into the halftime break.
The second half, however, belonged entirely to the Warriors. They exploded out of the blocks with a try that came from seemingly nowhere. Ali Leiataua capitalised on a loose pass from Corey Horsburgh, scorched away from halfway, and raced into the corner to put the Warriors in front. This sparked a significant shift in momentum. The Warriors’ defence tightened considerably, and their forwards began to assert their dominance, engaging in several fierce contests.
The scoreboard continued to tick over for the home team. Halasima, who had been promoted to the starting side, followed up a well-placed grubber kick from Boyd to add another try. Jackson Ford then extended the lead to 24-6, further solidifying the Warriors’ control. The young 20-year-old second-rower, Halasima, then etched his name onto the scoresheet for a second time with 11 minutes remaining, leaving the Raiders’ forwards looking hesitant in their attempts to tackle him.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart was visibly disappointed with the outcome. “Disappointing – with the result of the scoring, obviously. There were a couple of opportunities in the first half,” he commented. When questioned about whether the Warriors had now become a genuine rival for his side, Stuart offered a terse response, mumbling, “No… just a team.”
The Warriors continued their scoring spree. Tanah Boyd added a try from a clever backheel kick by Erin Clark, and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak crossed for his second of the night. The conversion by Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in his 150th game for the club capped off a near-perfect performance. Reflecting on the win, Tuivasa-Sheck acknowledged the team’s focus. “That’s that job done against the Raiders. We’ll review the game and move on to Newcastle; they’re going to be tough too,” he said.
The Warriors’ strong start to the season, characterised by their potent attack and improved defence, signals their intent to be a force in the NRL this year. Their ability to overcome adversity and deliver such a convincing second-half performance against a quality opponent like the Raiders will undoubtedly send a message to the rest of the competition.
