The Warriors celebrate against the Raiders. Photo / Photosport
Warriors 40
Raiders 6
This might turn out to be one of the most important results of the Warriors’ season.
It’s only round two but it already feels like something special is in the air out Penrose way in 2026.
They beat one of their toughest rivals on Friday night and had to overcome significant adversity to do so.
They also held one of the best attacking teams in the competition to a single try as they smashed the Canberra Raiders 40-6.
It’s the kind of victory, against the minor premiers, that does wonders for belief and confidence.
Leka Halasima will grab the headlines with his two brilliant tries but this was the ultimate team effort, built on a defence that refused to give in.
Halfback Tanah Boyd continued his eye-catching form from last week, while the pack gradually ground their counterparts into the ground, with Jackson Ford a standout, while Taine Tuaupiki sparkled as a replacement fullback.
The only bad news was the casualty ward. Kurt Capewell (calf) was scratched after the warm-up, while Chanel Harris-Tavita left the field in the 10th minute with a heavy concussion. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was a late HIA.
The first half was a heavyweight slugfest in the rain but the Warriors exploded in the second, with six unanswered tries.
Just like last week, the scoreline probably wasn’t a true reflection of the contest, but this was a big step from round one by the Warriors.
However, their swift start wasn’t repeated, with Kaeo Weekes crossing in the fifth minute after a slick move, as the Warriors’ right edge got their numbers wrong.
There was more adversity soon afterwards, with the sickening sight of Harris-Tavita being knocked out cold after an attempted tackle on second rower Noah Martin, which led to Tuaupiki being introduced and Nicoll-Klokstad moving into the halves.
But the Warriors responded with a strong try to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, who defied the odds – and three defenders – to force his way over in the corner.
From there it was simply attritional, with heavy contact, brutal tackles and smart handling in the conditions.
In the first half the Warriors couldn’t make the most of plenty of possession, with their timing slightly out, especially on the left edge, though it was difficult with the suffocating Raiders defence.
The Australian team rode their luck, with Seb Kris perhaps fortunate to avoid the sin bin after taking out Jacob Laban without the ball when the second rower looked headed for the line.
Boyd kicked the resultant penalty.
But the Warriors defence held up well, particularly just before halftime as they survived repeat sets in their red zone after a Watene-Zelezniak error in front of his own posts.
That felt crucial and was magnified with Ali Leiataua’s 60m intercept try two minutes after the restart, when he snaffled a Tom Starling pass and bounded away to dive over in front of a jubilant South Stand.
The emotions ramped up from there, with a six-man Warriors tackle driving a Raiders opponent back 15m before sparking an all-in melee.
But the home side used the energy, fuelled by a big Warriors chant, to create a brilliant third try, with Halasima timing his run superbly to meet a precise Boyd grubber after Wayde Egan had cleverly won a repeat set.
But the Raiders weren’t going away, with Halasima pulling off a try-saving tackle metres from the line, followed by another tough stop.
However, the Warriors got a leg up after Tapine’s high hit on Watene-Zelezniak and made the most of it as Ford smashed over near the posts after wonderful sleight of hand by Erin Clark.
That broke any Raiders’ resistance before Halasima scored the kind of try only he can manage, as he got past three defenders on a solo run to the line.
There were more tries to Boyd, after a remarkable Clark scorpion kick, and Watene-Zelezniak, as the 23,067 crowd enjoyed themselves with an ironic Viking clap.
Warriors 40 (Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 2, Ali Leiataua, Leka Halasima 2, Jackson Ford, Tanah Boyd tries; Boyd 4 cons, pen, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck con)
Raiders 6 (Kaeo Weekes try; Ethan Sanders con)
Halftime: 6-6
Michael Burgess has been a Sports Journalist for the New Zealand Herald since 2005, covering the Olympics, Fifa World Cups, and America’s Cup campaigns. He is a co-host of the Big League podcast.