New signings Alofi’ana Khan Pereira and Haizyn Mellars along with centre Caelys Putoko snared doubles as the One New Zealand Warriors bounced back impressively to swamp Canberra 44-12 in Friday's second-round New South Wales Cup clash at Go Media Stadium.
It was an exceptional transformation, equating to a stunning 66-point turnaround after losing 14-48 to the Roosters in round one.
The injection of experience in the starting pack provided by NRL squad members Marata Niukore and Morgan Gannon plus new signing Cooper Page-Wilson had a significant impact.
Working with young forwards Makaia Tafua, Kayliss Fatialofa and Paea Sikuvea, they had the Warriors on the front foot from the outset – and the rewards soon came.
First Khan-Pereira showed off his key weapon – his pace – to score in the corner when the Warriors shifted left.
Match: Warriors v Raiders
Round 2 -
home Team
Warriors
1st Position
away Team
Raiders
10th Position
Venue: Go Media Stadium, Auckland
They went to the same edge minutes later, Luke Hanson releasing Putoko who fed Khan-Pereira. He poked through a grubber, Putoko pouncing to score when the Raiders failed to clean up the kick in-goal.
The 12-0 lead ballooned to 18-0 22 minutes in when Niukore put Jett Cleary through a gap, the halfback combining strength and pace to score a superb try.
Next up Cleary bombed to the right, the acrobatic Mellars soaring spectacularly to claim the ball and off-load inside for Gannon to score his first try for the club.
Cleary converted all four tries to make it 24-0 at halftime, the lead growing to 30-0 inside the opening minute.
Putting on a play directly from a scrum, Hanson drifted across the line opening a hole for Putoko to drive over for his second.
After conceding a soft try from dummy half, the Warriors were back in business, a long ball giving Mellars a sight of the line for his first.
For the next try they went left with a slick wide pass from new signing Cassius Tia setting up Khan-Pereira for his second.
The right edge was the option next, Hanson popping up a bomb with Mellars springing skywards spectacularly to catch and score for a 44-6 lead.
There was minor disappointment in allowing Canberra to score a consolation effort but it took nothing away from a terrific rebound win. It was also one which vaulted them from the bottom end of the ladder to seventh while all but erasing their negative points for and against differential.
They're on the road for the first time next week to face the Newcastle Knights ahead of the NRL fixture between the two clubs on Saturday.
