Source: Radio New Zealand
Ali Leiataua of the Warriors heads for the line in the round two match against the Raiders at Go Media Stadium. Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Second-rower Leka Halasima and winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored a try double each, as NZ Warriors overpowered Canberra Raiders 38-6 at Auckland’s Go Media Stadium.
The contest was locked at 6-6 at halftime, but the home side piled on 32 unanswered points to draw away in the second half.
Halasima was a late replacement into the starting line-up, after veteran Kurt Capewell strained a calf in warm-ups, but delivered the 80-minute performance predicted by coach Andrew Webster a week earlier.
The Raiders scored first through fullback Kaeao Weekes, but Watene-Zelezniak responded and halfback Tanah Boyd slotted a penalty for the halftime scoreline.
Centre Ali Leiataua had provided the final pass for his winger’s try and had one of his own after the break, when he intercepted a pass in midfield and scampered away to spark the onslaught.
Canberra beat the Warriors twice last season, en route to the minor premiership, but had no answer in the rain at Mt Smart.
Veteran wing Roger Tuivasa-Sheck couldn’t score a try in his 150th outing for the Warriors, but had the distinction of slotting the final conversion of Watene-Zelezniak’s second try.
See how the game unfolded in our blog:
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
