The Warriors rode their luck on a few occasions but walked away with a 42-18 win, the most points they\u2019ve ever scored in their first match of the season.<\/p>\n
Playmakers Chanel Harris-Tavita and Tanah Boyd both had their hand in three tries each. Harris-Tavita scored two and set one up, while Boyd crossed for the opener and assisted two. <\/p>\n
Jackson Ford was also immense with 219m with the ball off 22 carries to go along with a team-high 28 tackles.<\/p>\n
Some early-season wobbles from the Roosters were expected as Daly Cherry-Evans settles in and builds combinations with his new teammates.<\/p>\n
While the Roosters improved as the match progressed, they only have themselves to blame with poor discipline and execution letting them down.<\/p>\n
The Warriors\u2019 victory shows Andrew Webster\u2019s men can build on their impressive campaign last season and fight for their maiden premiership.<\/p>\n
An early penalty gave the Warriors great field possession in the opening exchanges, but they didn\u2019t make the most of their chances despite overturning a knock-on ruling through a captain\u2019s challenge and benefiting from a six again call. <\/p>\n
The Warriors continued to pepper the Roosters\u2019 line and eventually capitalised when Boyd threw a brilliant dummy pass to break the line and score their opening try.<\/p>\n
Tanah Boyd scores the opening try of the match. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck should have added a second minutes later but was tackled into touch. The Roosters made them pay when Billy Smith made a break down the left edge and found his captain James Tedesco to level the game.<\/p>\n
The Warriors had the chance to retake the lead thanks to a penalty goal, but Boyd\u2019s attempt went wide. <\/p>\n
The Roosters thought they\u2019d snuck ahead when Benaiah Ioelu pounced on a ball that bounced off Tuivasa-Sheck\u2019s head, but it was ruled out for interference. <\/p>\n
Tuivasa-Sheck made up for his blunder in the next set, catching a bomb and helping Adam Pompey dive over in the corner. <\/p>\n
The Warriors added two more before the break – the first after a well-executed block play led to Kurt Capewell diving over under the posts. Then a misthrown pass bounced perfectly for Tuivasa-Sheck, who found Chanel Harris-Tavita on his inside.<\/p>\n
This saw the hosts leading 22-6 at halftime. <\/p>\n
The Roosters needed to score first to start the second half and Cherry-Evans thought he had after pouncing on a Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad error, but upon further inspection it was deemed he had grounded the ball before losing control.<\/p>\n
Webster waited till the second half to inject Leka Halasima, which proved to be a masterstroke as he scored with his first touch of the game, leaping high into the air to catch a Boyd kick.<\/p>\n
James Fisher-Harris. Photo \/ Photosport<\/p>\n
The Roosters did strike with back-to-back tries through Billy Smith and Angus Crichton, however their momentum was halted when the Warriors kicked a penalty goal. <\/p>\n
But the Roosters kept fighting and it took some big defensive efforts from the hosts, including an intercept from Fisher-Harris on the goal line, to keep them at bay. <\/p>\n
Harris-Tavita sealed the win when his high kick skewed off direction but was gathered by Tuivasa-Sheck, who threw it back to his five-eighth to claim his second of the night and secure the two competition points. <\/p>\n
Belief will be high among the Warriors, and all eyes will turn to next Friday to see whether they can back it up against the Canberra Raiders, also in Auckland. <\/p>\n
Warriors 42 (Tanah Boyd, Adam Pompey, Kurt Capewell, Chanell Harris-Tavita 2, Leka Halasima, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad tries; Boyd 5 cons, pen) <\/p>\n
Roosters 18 (James Tedesco, Billy Smith, Angus Crichton tries; Sam Walker 3 cons) <\/p>\n
HT: 22-6 <\/p>\n