Warriors down Bulldogs

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have gone down to the New Zealand Warriors, 40-6 in their opening game of the 2019 season.

The Warriors opened the scoring in the 15th minute when winger Ken Maumalo was able to collect a Blake Green cross field kick and ground the ball just inside the touch in goal. Debutant Adam Keighran missed the conversion and the home side led 4-0.

A Green kick once again led to the Warriors next try in the 22nd minute when the halfback put the ball in the air across to winger David Fusitu’a who out jumped Bulldogs winger Christian Crichton to tap the ball back inside to his centre partner Solomone Kata to score out wide.

Keighran converted and the Warriors led 10-0.

The Home side grabbed a third try in the 30th minute when rookie Keighran was able to beat two Bulldogs defenders and score. The five-eighth converted his try to give the Warriors a 16-0 lead.

With two minutes remaining in the first half, the Warriors shifted the ball to their right and winger Fusitu’a made a break down the western touchline before he was able to get the ball away to hooker Nathaniel Roache who scored under the post. Keighran added two points and the Warriors went into half-time leading 22-0.

The Warriors were first on the board in the second half when Captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck took on the Bulldogs defence close to the line and scored, Keighran added another two points to extend their lead to 28.

Christian Crichton scored the Bulldogs first of the match in the 55th minute when the Dogs shifted the ball from the right to the left and a lovely catch and pass from fullback Will Hopoate put the winger over in the corner for his first try in his new colours. Kerrod Holland added the extras from the sideline and score was 28-6.

Kata grabbed his second for the match in the 60th minute when the ball shifted from the Warriors left side of the field to the right and found fullback Tuivasa-Sheck who was able to tip the ball onto his centre who scored out wide. Keighran converted and the home side extended their lead, 34-6.

Peta Hiku grabbed another try for the Warriors in the 70th minute when a short side play from the home side created space for the centre close to line and a neat pass from five-eighth Keighran put Hiku over. The rookie converted from near the touchline for his sixth straight conversion and give the Warriors a 40-6 lead.

The score remained that way for the final ten minutes and the home side walked away with a round one victory.