Warriors continue big start to NRL season

The Warriors’ terrific start to the NRL season has continued as they thumped another marquee opponent at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

After beating Sydney Roosters 42-18 in round one, on Friday they hammered Canberra 40-6 in wet but warm conditions in round two.

It’s just the fourth time in the club’s history they’ve won their opening two matches and they did it in style on Friday, scoring seven unanswered tries, and six of those in the second half.

The game didn’t start the way the home side wanted with second-rower Kurt Capewell suffering a suspected torn calf, meaning Leka Halasima was promoted to the starting lineup and Morgan Gannon to the bench.

Kaeo Weekes then opened the scoring for Canberra after scooting around the defence from fullback in the fourth minute. Ethan Sanders converted the try for a 6-0 lead.

To continue the rough start, Chanel Harris-Tavita had to be taken from the field in the ninth minute after heavy contact from a charging Noah Martin.

Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored the Warriors’ first try in the 14th minute, and a Tanah Boyd penalty goal in the 34th-minute made it 6-6 at half time.

The Warriors opened the second spell with a try out of nowhere as Ali Leiataua scorched away from halfway to race into the corner from a loose Corey Horsburgh pass in an overlap.

With the conversion the home side took a 12-6 lead with only two minutes gone in the half.

The Warriors tackles then started to hit harder and the forwards came together a couple of times.

The home side were on the scoreboard again with Halasima following up a Boyd stab kick through and when Jackson Ford added another, the score moved out to 24-6.

Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad went to for an HIA and the Warriors backline was looking a bit decimated.

But it was 20-year-old second rower Halasima who crossed for his second try and made the Raiders forwards look shy of tackling. With the successful conversion, the score raced out to 30-6 with 11 minutes remaining.

The second half remained all Warriors as the Raiders forwards were shown up and their backs struggled to get ball.

Boyd scored off a back heel kick from Erin Clark and then Watene -Zelezniak scored again to put out a warning to all other sides including the Knights next weekend.

The Raiders forwards lacked bite and perhaps their biggest impact was in the scuffle after the final siren had sounded.