A fourth-consecutive home win against the Newtown Jets propelled the New Zealand Warriors into fourth spot on the VB NSW Cup ladder.
Following a 30-24 away loss to the Penrith Panthers last week, Stacey Jones’ side relished being home at Mount Smart Stadium as they produced their biggest win of the season in accounting for Newtown 44-18 in Saturday’s round-eight encounter.
The Warriors are fully utilising the home-ground advantage to remain undefeated at Mt Smart Stadium after four matches beating Wentworthville, North Sydney, Wests Tigers and Newtown.
New Zealand held an 18-6 halftime lead over Newtown which might have been larger had Api Pewhairangi found his usual goal-kicking radar as he converted just one of the four tries scored in the first half.
Konrad Hurrell, playing in the VB NSW Cup for the first time this season, was quickly into the scoring action after good ball movement to the right.
Hurrell also featured when he combined sweetly with fullback Glen Fisiiahi to put replacement right wing Paul Ulberg in the first of his two tries.
Fisiiahi didn’t see out the rest of the match, leaving the field in the first half with a knee issue and did not return. Hurrell also went to the sideline after a head knock but returned to the field.
The Warriors scored another five tries and 26 points in total in the second half with wings Ulberg and Ken Maumalo both finishing with doubles.
Vodafone Warriors 44 (Paul Ulberg 2, Ken Maumalo 2, Konrad Hurrell, Api Pewhairangi, Siliva Havili, Suaia Matagi, David Bhana tries; Pewhairangi 3, Sam Cook goals) bt Newtown Jets 18
This article first appeared on warriors.co.nz
