In tough, slippery conditions, the Toyota Forklifts Canberra Raiders have been defeated by the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland by 40 - 6.
After both teams came off wins last week, both sides were looking to keep the winning momentum going.
The first points of the match went to Canberra off the back of stellar attack from fullback Kaeo Weekes, breaking straight through the Warriors' defence untouched to score under the posts.
Backed by a conversion from halfback Ethan Sanders, the score became 6 - 0.
Ten minutes into the match, Warriors’ five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita came off the field after a rough tackle by second-rower Noah Martin. Harris-Tavita ended up failing his HIA and was ruled out for the rest of the match.
Not long after, New Zealand winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak scored on the right edge and after the missed conversion from Tanah Boyd it was 6-4.
Raiders five-eighth Ethan Strange had an opportunity in the 26th minute after a nice pass from Canberra centre Simi Sasagi, which saw him off and racing, but in the wet conditions, he slipped and could not get to the line.
After multiple ruck infringements and set restarts from the Warriors, they were awarded a penalty shot after Raiders centre Sebastian Kris made an early tackle. The penalty goal by Tanah Boyd, was successful, levelling the scores to 6 - 6.
A penalty was awarded to the Warriors in the last seconds of the half after second rower Hudson Young was lying in the ruck, which resulted in a forty-meter penalty goal attempt by Tanah Boyd that ended up falling short of the posts, keeping the scores level 6 - 6 at halftime.
Not even two minutes into the second half, Warriors centre Ali Leiataua intercepted a pass made by Raiders hooker Tom Starling and broke straight through the Raiders' defence for a 50-metre run to score on the right edge, untouched.
Tanah Boyd converted for a 12-6 lead.
The Raiders had a defensive lapse on the left side, and the Warriors took that opportunity, with second rower Leka Halasima finding a gap to score and with the conversion an 18-6 lead.
Joe Tapine was placed on report soon after for high contact on Watene-Zelezniak, after he collected the Warriors winger high chasing a kick.
Not long after, off the back of a scrum, prop Jackson Ford found a gap in Canberra’s defence to score under the posts. Boyd converted straight in front of the posts to make the score 24 - 6
Warriors second-rower Leka Halasami secures a double after bouncing off a tackle attempt by Canberra second-rower Noah Martin and breaking through multiple Raiders' defence. The try was successfully converted for a fourth time by Tanah Boyd, making the score 30 - 6.
Two more tries to New Zealand saw them finish victors by 40-6.
The Raiders will return home to the nation’s capital to prepare for their first home game of the season against the Bulldogs on Thursday night.
