Losing second-rower Kurt Capewell before the opening whistle then five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita to a head knock early on might have rocked the Warriors in previous years, but you wouldn’t have known they were not a team at full strength by their performance.
Leka Halasima continues to emerge as a star of the game, while Tanah Boyd’s kicking performance was top-class, and the defensive efforts all night were terrific in miserable conditions.
As the final whistle sounded on the Warriors’ demolition of the Canberra Raiders in the rain at Go Media Stadium on Friday night, there were few better sights than chief executive Cameron George giving the visitors a serve from the sidelines; a callback to Raiders enforcer Joseph Tapine doing the same after his side won in Auckland last year.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George sent the Canberra Raiders on their way. Image / Sky Sport
It’s that sort of passion from the people within the club that radiates to and amplifies that of the fans.
The only question through two rounds for the New Zealand club is: can they keep this level of play up?
Winner: Liam Lawson – professional points-scorer?
Sticking to overperforming Kiwis for a second, Liam Lawson had no right to be scoring points from both Formula One races at the weekend. The young Kiwi driver even admitted as much himself after finishing seventh in Saturday’s sprint race, indicating his team prioritised a good result in the short-form race, based on how the Racing Bulls car felt through the week.
Qualifying in 14th for the grand prix, it seemed that might have been the right choice from the Lawson stable. But the race itself was Lawson at his very best as he claimed another seventh-placed finish.
“That’s not what I expected, so very, very well done,” he said over the team radio after the race. “I think, honestly, for what we had, the pace we had, that was everything we could do with the car.”
Lawson was able to capitalise on the misfortune of others off the starting line, but found himself needing to pit early as his tyres were struggling and he had no pace. A safety car then coming on to the track moments after he left pit lane could have derailed his race.
Instead, the Kiwi drove a clean race, managed his only available set of hard tyres masterfully over 47 laps, was aware of what was going on around him and squeezed everything he could out of what initially looked like it would be a bad situation.
He did benefit from the two McLarens not starting the race and Max Verstappen having to retire his Red Bull late, but it was a drive that earned Lawson plenty of praise from his team.
“Well done, mate. Impressive. That is right up there with your best. Really, really well done mate,” Racing Bulls team principal Alan Permane told him.
Lawson is now tied on points with Verstappen on eight.
Loser: English rugby
This was a terrible tournament for Steve Borthwick’s side. A first-ever loss to Italy seemed like a death knell, and Sunday morning’s 48-46 loss to France was the final nail in the coffin. With just one win, this was England’s worst Six Nations performance ever. The Telegraph reports England had not lost four tests (or more) in the Six Nations for 50 years.
But in a strange way, losing to France actually boosted the English stocks. The side showed plenty of fight in what was an enthralling test match, leading at halftime and then taking the lead late. Discipline, however, again led to their downfall, with a Thomas Ramos penalty goal in the last play of the game lifting France to the win and the Six Nations title.
England will now review their campaign, ahead of a trip to Ellis Park to face the Springboks in July. Good luck to them.
Winner: New Zealand women
Zoi Sadowski-Synnott: Claimed gold at the Natural Selection Tour event in Revelstoke, Canada. Her first event post-Olympics and the Kiwi star triumphed in the bracket-format event.
Black Ferns Sevens: Won the tournament in New York; topped the world series.
Alice Robinson: A podium finish in the FIS Giant Slalom in Are, Sweden.
White Ferns: An easy T20 win over South Africa.
Wellington Phoenix Women: A 3-0 win over Brisbane and looking every part a title-contending team.
Heck of a weekend, that.
The Black Ferns celebrate after the final whistle to defeat Australia in the New York final. Photo / SmartFrame
Losers: Black Caps
Followed up a near 100-run loss in the T20 final by being absolutely obliterated by the South African bowling attack in Mount Maunganui in the first of five T20s on Sunday.
All out for 91 in fewer than 15 overs, with no one in the top four scoring in double figures. Plenty not to like in that one. Hopefully Tuesday’s clash in Hamilton follows a different script.
Winner: Sydney rugby league fans
The scenes that came out of Sydney early in the second half of the Roosters’ win over the Rabbitohs showed the passion that fuels sport. As Rabbitohs winger Alex Johnston crossed for his second try of the match – an outstanding, length-of-the-field counter-attack – to become the NRL’s all-time leading try-scorer, I watched with curiosity as to whether the fans would storm the field.
The NRL made a point of putting a statement out telling fans to celebrate in their seats, but all of the discourse around it was that a field-storm would follow if Johnston broke the record.
It was a heartening scene as fans from both sides – or others; there was at least one Warriors jersey on the pitch – celebrated the moment but did not overdo it. The players made their way back into the sheds with relative ease, shielding Johnston in the celebrations, and the fans cleared the pitch faster than expected.
The whole thing lasted maybe 15 minutes and served up a scene that everyone watching won’t soon forget.
The threat of being arrested didn’t stop NRL fans from storming the field after Alex Johnston’s history-making try. Photo / Photosport
Loser: F1 powerhouses
The 2026 constructors’ championship looks like it’s going to be a two-horse race. Two-time defending champions McLaren have had one starting car of a possible four in grands prix so far this season, with Oscar Piastri yet to actually start one. Red Bull, who won the two constructors’ championships prior to McLaren’s run, have had similar woes, with only one car finishing each grand prix so far this year.
Mercedes have been first and second in both grands prix, with Ferrari third and fourth. Mercedes are already 80 points ahead of third-placed McLaren, while Red Bull are level on points with feeder team Racing Bulls (12).
Winner: Tottenham Hotspur fans
What’s that? A glimmer of hope?
It’s been some time since Spurs fans had something to cheer about but a draw against Liverpool – the first time in six outings that they didn’t lose – could prove to be a vital point in their bid to avoid demotion.
It’s still a weird thought that a club like Tottenham might get relegated, but here we are. You enjoy that point, Tottenham.
Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.