NZ Warriors 12
The New Zealand Warriors paid for a mistake-ridden performance as they fell 25-12 to a defending premiers St George Illawarra side in Auckland today.
The clinical Dragons set up the victory by going into a commanding 18-0 lead after just 25 minutes by running in three tries, two to Kiwis
winger Jason Nightingale.
They were helped in large part by the home side, whose poor ball security was repeatedly turned into points.
The result left the Warriors as one of only two clubs yet to record a win after three rounds, along with the Gold Coast Titans.
For the Dragons, it was a return to form after their surprise defeat to Cronulla last Monday night.
They dominated the Warriors up the middle, while their defence was difficult to pierce.
Nightingale grabbed the first of his two touchdowns after two of his New Zealand test team-mates, prop Sam Rapira and fullback Lance Hohaia, turned the ball over.
Nightingale crossed after just five minutes after Rapira lost the ball in a tackle.
The Dragons took full toll in their next attack when Nightingale climbed above fullback Lance Hohaia to score off a Jamie Soward bomb.
A Hohaia dropped pass helped the Dragons to set up their next try.
One of prop Dan Hunt's many offloads was finished off by Nightingale busting through the defensive line to dot down.
The Dragons appeared to extend the lead midway through the half when Soward crossed after what had seemed to be a loose offload by Feleti Mateo, but Soward was ruled to have knocked the ball forward out of Mateo's hands.
There was no reprieve for the Warriors minutes later when another Mateo offload missed its mark.
From the turnover, and after a Hunt offload, centre Matt Cooper forced his way over in the corner.
Soward's third conversion help the visitors to an 18-0 halftime lead.
The Warriors finally got on the board eight minutes after the restart, ironically after a dropped ball from opposition winger Brett Morris.
They used the field position to send forward Ben Matulino crashing over by the posts, with five-eighth James Maloney added the extras.
However, the Dragons hit back after they got the ball back from another Warriors mistake in good position and substitute back Kyle Stanley dotted down in the corner.
The Warriors finished off the match in spirited style.
With six minutes to go, and moments after Cooper had been sinbinned for a professional foul, Shaun Berrigan crossed for his first try for the club.
However, a Soward field goal ensured there would be no miracle comeback for the home side.
St George Illawarra Dragons 25 (J Nightingale 2 M Cooper K Stanley tries J Soward 4 goals J Soward 3 field goals) bt NZ Warriors 12 (S Berrigan B Matulino tries J Maloney 2 goals) at Mt Smart Stadium. Referee: Ben Cummins, Tony De Las Heras. Crowd: 11,651.
- NZPA