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Playing with power and poise, the One New Zealand Warriors delivered their best performance of the season in beating St George Illawarra 40-12 in Saturday’s round seven New South Wales Cup clash at Go Media Stadium.
It was an outstanding response after being edged out by defending premier Newtown last week, the win keeping the Warriors at the top of the table with their points for and against much improved.
Facing a second top four opponent in successive weeks, they muscled up from the outset and went on to dominate the Dragons in all facets.
Completing at 81 per cent, they were ahead 1624-1373 in metres gained, 518-434 in post-contact metres, 7-1 in off loads and had a defensive efficiency rate of 94.58 per cent, missing just 14 tackles with only two ineffective tackles compared to 27 and 14 for the Dragons.
The Warriors’ first half effort was impressive going to the break 12-0 ahead through tries to right winger Daeon Amituanai and fullback Geronimo Doyle.
Match: Warriors v Dragons
Round 7 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Dragons
5th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Amituanai’s effort came courtesy of a lovely piece of skill from Doyle as he stepped through a staggered line and then feathered an angled grubber for Amituanai to collect.
In the 20th minute Doyle was centre stage again. Hooker Sam Healey made a weaving run, found Tanah Boyd on his right where he linked with Doyle, the fullback stepping inside and arrowing to the try-line taking two defenders with him. Boyd converted and added a penalty close to halftime for a 12-0 lead.
Having made a solid start, the Warriors promptly undid their good work in the opening stages of the second half, an error from the kick-off leading directly to a try to fullback Cody Ramsay followed by another eight minutes later to winger Ben Rumble.
Just as swiftly the Warriors grabbed the momentum back.
A sweet Boyd grubber sat up perfectly for second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava to snare and score in the 52nd minute and three minutes later the dangerous Doyle had a second try. Boyd pumped up a towering bomb, winger Setu Tu (back at the Warriors) rose to contest bumping the ball back for centre Morgan Harper who drove over the line before popping a late off load as he was being held for Doyle to score.
That had the Warriors 22-4 ahead, then trimmed to 22-12 as Ramsay scored his second but the rest of the contest belonged to the home side.
Prop Harry Durbin created the next try in the 70th minute as he chased out and forced Dragons halfback Jonah Glover to lose possession as he was kicking. Kayliss Fatialofa snaffled the loose ball 40 metres out and sent standoff Luke Hanson scooting 30 metres to score.
Five minutes later Fatialofa was the scorer when Healey broke clear from inside his own half, drew the cover and gave his back rower a run to the line.
It was party time now and Freddy Lussick provided the icing when he burrowed over from dummy half in the dying moments.
The Warriors have a third straight home game next Saturday when they host Newcastle at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere.
