It started as a horror night for the Warriors, who lost Kurt Capewell and Chanel Harris-Tavita in quick succession, but Andrew Webster’s side rallied to demolish an ill-disciplined Canberra Raiders team 40-6 on Friday night.
MATCH CENTRE: Warriors v Raiders, stats, score, live blog
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Capewell was a late scratching after suffering a suspected torn calf in pre-game warm-ups, while Harris-Tavita was knocked out as he attempted to tackle Noah Martin early in the first half.
It looked like it could be a long night for the Warriors as Kaeo Weekes scored in the fourth minute, but it was all the home side from that point.
Leka Halasima, who was thrust into the starting line-up with Capewell injured, made a statement with two tries, six tackle busts and 101 metres.
Tanah Boyd, meanwhile, continues to look revitalised in New Zealand after putting on a long-range kicking clinic in wet conditions. He also added two try assists in the win along with a try of his own.
For the Raiders, skipper Joseph Tapine had a frustrating night. He was constantly in discussion with referee Peter Gough and late in the game was placed on report for a shoulder to the head of a falling Dallin Watene-Zelezniak.
“Wins like tonight aren’t a surprise” | 10:37
BIG HITS
Warriors CEO’s cheeky Raiders send-off
Speaking of Tapine, he drew the ire of some Warriors fans last year when he seemingly mocked Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad with a crybaby impersonation for staying down on the field.
That came after Tapine was placed on report for a crusher tackle on Nicoll-Klokstad, with the Raiders forward later cleared over the incident by the NRL’s match review committee.
That moment clearly has not been forgotten by Warriors CEO Cameron George, who made the same crybaby motion as the fulltime siren sounded on Friday along with a mana wave.
Warriors star leaves coach with selection headache
The last man standing has becomes a must-start star.
Tanah Boyd put his name up in lights across the ditch with another show-stealing performance.
Picked out of necessity in Round 1 with Luke Metcalf continuing his rehab from a long-term knee injury, Boyd has made it impossible for the Warriors to leave him out of the side moving forward.
The much-maligned former Titan kicked the Warriors out of trouble numerous times in a gruelling first half, finishing with close to 800 kick metres overall, and reaped the rewards late on with two try assists and a try of his own to boot.
Boyd’s performance was made even more remarkable considering his halves partner Chanel Harris-Tavita was knocked out within the first 10 minutes.
Noah’s ark
His biblical vessel equivalent wasn’t built in a day, and neither will the career of Noah Martin but the early signs are promising for the Raiders back-rower.
Martin was one of few highlights for an ailing green machine fresh off his last start try-scoring double.
The Narooma Devil local will find plenty of success throughout the year as he carves out his niche as a power forward on the Raiders’ right edge.
Proving things in Noah’s world comes in pairs, and in a testament to his capability on both sides of the ball, Martin in the space of the minute ended Harris-Tavita’s evening with a charging run before forcing an error out of the usually unflappable James Fisher-Harris.
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