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Slow starts to each half were followed by points-scoring surges as the One New Zealand Warriors toppled Canterbury Bankstown 40-24 for their sixth straight win in Sunday’s round 12 New South Wales Cup encounter at Go Media Stadium.
The competition leaders were off the pace early on as the Bulldogs scored twice to take a 10-0 lead after only six minutes with ex-Warriors hooker Taniela Otukolo the first to cross.
Just as quickly the Warriors snapped back with four unanswered tries – all converted by Taine Tuaupiki – to take a handy 24-10 lead into halftime.
Coming off his NRL debut last week, Tanner Stowers-Smith sparked the recovery from close to the line, taking Sam Healey’s dummy half pass, hitting and spinning to wrench his way over.
Match: Warriors v Bulldogs
Round 12 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Bulldogs
6th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
For their second, the Warriors went to a short side on the right with halfback Jett Cleary – on debut in the NSW Cup – connecting with second rower Eddie Ieremia-Toeava before a lovely flick-on by centre Morgan Harper freed up winger Daeon Amituanai. He scooted down the touchline, stepped inside and fed fullback Taine Tuaupiki for a splendid try.
The Warriors had a 12-10 lead after 28 minutes and then went further ahead as standoff Luke Hanson put centre Moala Graham-Taufa over for his ninth try of the season before a fourth try right on halftime. It was a replica of the Graham-Taufa try only this time it was Cleary serving it up for second rower Kayliss Fatialofa for what was also his ninth try of the campaign.
The start to the second half was a repeat of the first, this time the Bulldogs carving up with three tries in 10 minutes – the third to former Warriors prop Zyon Maiu’u – to level up at 24-24 with 30 minutes to play.
But, as they did in the first half, the Warriors settled down, found their tempo and put together a run of three tries.
Loose forward Kalani Going started it, going the direct route from dummy half right on the Bulldogs’ line for the Warriors to regain the lead at the 57-minute mark.
The Warriors set up on their left for their sixth try of the day, forwards Freddy Lussick, Tom Ale, Going and Fatialofa stringing passes together with Fatialofa backing into the defensive line and off-loading out the back for a sweeping Hanson to connect with Graham-Taufa for his second of the match (and 10th of the season).
With the lead out to 34-24, the Warriors saved the best for last in the 78th minute.
The Bulldogs went wide to the right but put the ball down, winger Sio Kali swooping on it on his own 10-metre line and racing 50 metres downfield. Checked by the cover he popped a sweet pass over the top back inside for Graham-Taufa who found on his shoulder to finish it off.
It was the third time in their last four outings that the Warriors had scored 40 points or more, boosting their points for to 385 while they’ve conceded only 208.
With their 10th win in 11 starts the Warriors retained their three-point lead at the top the table.
They now face a three-match stretch on the road starting with South Sydney at Redfern Oval next Saturday.
