Look out. Here come the New Zealand Warriors.
The sleeping giants sprung to life with a 50-14 drubbing of the Newcastle Knights at Hunter Stadium on Saturday.
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Knights thrashed at home again
Newcastle's season from hell continues. This time it was the Warriors breaking the hearts of home fans.
Winger David Fusitua scored four tries as the visitors flexed their muscles against a punch-drunk home side who battled hard but couldn't handle the size and power of the Kiwis.
The nine-tries-to-two demolition of the cellar dwellers followed a stunning 36-18 win over the Broncos.
It was only the second time this season the Warriors have recorded consecutive wins, and it moved them to 14 points, on the edge of the top eight.
The visitors had their share of luck. Three tries came from kicks which rebounded off Knights players.
But for the majority they made their own good fortune.
Led by the scheming Shaun Johnson, they targeted the Knights' inexperienced left edge.
The loss was the home side's eighth straight defeat and the third time they have conceded 50 points or more.
The Warriors led 22-14 after an entertaining first half which featured six tries, including four to the visitors.
The pivotal moment came in the 48th minute. With the Knights trailing by eight points, Daniel Saifiti bombed a certain try when he spilled a basketball pass under the sticks from Brendan Elliot after the debutant flew high to catch a Danny Levi kick.
A minute later, David Fusitua crashed over for his second try in the right corner. Shaun Johnson converted. Fusitua made it a hat-trick a minute later and the visitors were away. They finished with five tries in the second half.
Elliot and back-rower Mitch Barnett, who were rushed into the Knights starting side after joining the club on Wednesday, were solid.
Jacob Saifiti carried the ball for a team-high 109 metres and made 30 tackles in his return from a wrist injury. Korbin Sims also carved out 100 metres.
Most of the problems were in defence, where the Knights missed 49 tackles.
The Warriors opened the scoring in the fifth minute, after a mistake by Trent Hodkinson near halfway. Three tackles later Abert Vetae, who was promoted to the starting side, steamrolled Dane Gagai after a off-load from Jacob Lillyman. Referee Dave Munro awarded no try, ruling Simon Mannering had obstructed Korbin Sims in the lead-up. But after numerous replays the bunker overruled.
There was no question mark over the visitors' second four-pointer four minutes later.
The Knights failed to number up in their red zone. Thomas Leuluai threw a cut out pass for David Fusitua to cross in the right corner. Johnson missed with the conversion for 10-0.
With the Warriors threatening to run away, the Knights hit back in the 19th minute through Sione Mata'utia. Collecting a short ball from Jack Cogger, the 19-year-old produced a 'don't argue' on Shaun Johnson and then fended off fullback Tuimoala Lolohea. Trent Hodkinson added the extras for 10-4.
Five minutes later the gap was back out to 10. Winger Manu Vatuvei made it 19 tries in 19 games against the Knights, after Shaun Johnson recovered a grubber which bounced off the chest of Jake Mamo.
The tries continued to come in five minute instalments.
The Knights were next. Jack Cogger put a deft kick in-goal which bounced up nicely for Brendan Elliot to mark his debut with a try.
The Warriors responded through Bodene Thompson. Targeting the Knights left side, the second-rower ran into a hole after Cooger rushed out of the line.
Hodkinson added a penalty for 22-14 at the break.
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