League: Wigan Warriors too strong for depleted NZ counterparts

Eddy Pettybourne of Wigan is wrapped up by NZ Warriors defenders. Photo / Getty

The Wigan Warriors blew a rusty New Zealand Warriors off the park 46-22 in Hamilton last night, leaving the home side bruised and coach Matt Elliott with a long "to do" list.

Wigan ran away with the game in the second half, scoring 30 unanswered points and repeatedly exposing their opponents' weak right flank.

With 16 of the club's players - including former Wigan Warrior Sam Tomkins - out of contention of this match for the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines this weekend, the NZ Warriors had just nine players with NRL first grade experience.

And it showed.

The locals were guilty of handling lapses and some poor and disorganised defence in the opening stanza that saw Wigan race out to a 12-0 lead with Jack Hughes and Joe Burgess both touching down within eight minutes.

But led by their strong-running captain Sam Rapira, second-rower Ben Matulino and the wide-ranging Feleti Mateo the NZ Warriors clawed back with three tries to take a 16-12 lead after 26 minutes.

The crowd of about 4000 went to the break pleased with a rusty NZ Warriors holding a 22-16 lead in an entertaining half.

There was little to cheer about in the second spell however as the NZ Warriors were cruelly shown up on their right flank with Burgess scoring two more tries and others to Gil Dudson and Sam Powell - all within 20 minutes.

And when Wigan winger Dom Manfredi raced 90 metres to score with 19 minutes to go the crowd knew it was curtains.

The Warriors came through the match without injuries but clearly have work to do while Wigan leave New Zealand completing the perfect build-up for their showdown against the Roosters in Sydney for the World Club Challenge next weekend.

The match was the latest in a packed pre-season schedule for the Warriors who after this weekend's nines tournament will play the Broncos at Dunedin on February 23.