The NZ Warriors strengthened their grip on third place with a commanding 40-6 demolition of defending NRL champions Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium, despite losing star halfback Luke Metcalf to another hamstring injury.
Jacob Laban and Chanel Harris-Tavita struck early before Alofiana Khan-Pereira produced a spectacular length-of-the-field intercept try while the Warriors were down to 12 men following Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad’s sin-binning for a hip-drop tackle that forced Reece Walsh from the field.
Metcalf injured his right hamstring immediately after converting the try, but the reshuffled Warriors maintained control, taking a 20-0 lead into halftime. Nicoll-Klokstad, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Ali Leiataua and Leka Halasima added second-half tries as the visitors overwhelmed Brisbane, whose only points came through Xavier Willison.
The victory leaves the Warriors third, two points behind leaders the Sydney Roosters and level with Penrith, but 10 points behind the Panthers on differential.
