Warriors hit Rabbitohs hard at ANZ

An early onslaught from the Warriors has helped the Auckland-based side to a comprehensive 48-16 victory over South Sydney at ANZ Stadium this afternoon in front of 11,208 fans.

The good defence of the Warriors was able to force an error in the fourth minute, and from the ensuing set, the Warriors began racing the clock with their pointscoring. Bill Tupou scored a superb try to open the scoring deep in the corner of the in-goal area, doing fantastically well to get the ball down.

Tries after 10 and 15 minutes saw the visitors ahead 18-0, while the Rabbitohs watched stunned. They would eventually trail the Warriors 24-0 before fighting back with a try to Dylan Farrell to add some respectability before halftime.

The change in attitude and lift in intensity for Souths changed the complexion of the game before and after halftime - and they scored immediately following oranges, this time Chris McQueen getting across the stripe. At 24-10 there seemed to be hope for the Bunnies, but the Warriors found their groove again after 50 minutes and continued to grind out their way to victory, scoring two tries before the hour mark to take a 34-10 lead.

South Sydney did have one more try in them, an intriguing bounce giving centre Dylan Farrell his second of the afternoon before the Warriors went on with the job, Manu Vatuvei capping a great performance with a hat-trick, two of those sensational efforts in the air. The Warriors ultimately finished 48-16 victors, a solid victory which sees them well and truly in the top eight, and now chasing an unlikely but possible top four berth.

The winners today face the Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium next Sunday, in a match that they'll need to win and win well to keep their charge on the run. The Rabbitohs face a must-win clash with heavyweights St George Illawarra next Sunday in Wollongong.

Match Details
South Sydney Rabbitohs 16 were defeated by New Zealand Warriors 48
National Rugby League - Round 20 - Sunday July 24, 2011 2:00pm
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Referee: Matt Cecchin and Chris James
Video Referee: Rod Lawrence
Touch Judges: David Abood and Jason Walsh
Crowd: 11,208
Halftime: South Sydney Rabbitohs 24 New Zealand Warriors 4

Leagueunlimited.com players of the match:
3 Points - James Maloney (1 Try, 6 Conversions)
2 Points - Manu Vatuvei (3 Tries)
1 Point - Feleti Mateo

South Sydney Rabbitohs (16)
Tries: Chris McQueen, Dylan Farrell (2)
Conversions: Chris Sandow (2/3)

New Zealand Warriors (48)
Tries: Manu Vatuvei (3), Joel Moon (2), James Maloney, Bill Tupou, Shaun Johnson, Pita Godinet
Conversions: James Maloney (6/9)

LeagueUnlimited.com Live Commentary ANZ Stadium today's venue, South Sydney fighting to keep their season alive while the Warriors will be desperate to continue a recent win of victories that has them an outside chance for a top four finish.
Kickoff is coming up at 2pm. Earlier today the Warriors were victorious in Toyota Cup Under 20's, coming home 38-18 over South Sydney.
TEAM CHANGES the forward packs are reshuffled for both sides. The Rabbitohs lose lock and captain Michael Crocker to injury. The resulting changes see Jason Clark drop to the bench, with Eddy Pettybourne and Ben Lowe both starting in the second row. For the Warriors, bench utility Lance Hohaia is out through injury, meaning young Pita Godinet is set to debut off the bench. Matulino and Taylor start at prop and 2nd row respectively, with Lillyman and Mateo coming off the bench.
Play begins at ANZ Stadium, Warriors with first possession. This is the fourth game of sport on this pitch in the last three days, and the pitch is in good condition despite the heavy use and earlier heavy rain.
2 min: Manu Vatuvei and Rhys Wesser both proving safe at the back despite good kicks from opposition halves.
4 min: Souths error, Dylan Farrell doesn't receive the offload and it's Warriors ball inside Souths' territory.
5 min: VIDEO REFEREE possible try to Warriors winger Bill Tupou... looks like a screamer!
6 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Bill Tupou. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Tupou follows a kick through and it looks like it's going dead but he grabs, it controls it and gets it down JUST inside the corner! Brilliant! Even better - Maloney's conversion - leather perfect!
New Zealand Warriors 6-0
10 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Shaun Johnson. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Superb awareness from Shaun Johnson, the rookie half jags an intercept on his own 10m line, Issac Luke the culprit. Johnson outpaces a flying Greg Inglis to complete a 90 metre try. Maloney adds two more and it's 12-0 inside ten minutes.
New Zealand Warriors 12-0
14 min: More attacking footy for the Warriors here, they've forced a drop-out...
15 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
This is becoming embarrassing early for South Sydney, Joel Moon is able to offload close to the line and finds Manu Vatuvei - the "Beast" gets it down in the corner. Maloney makes no mistake from the touchline.
New Zealand Warriors 18-0
19 min: Rhys Wesser spills it inside his own 40m zone... Warriors scrum and more attack. This could get ugly.
26 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by James Maloney. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Mateo's first touch and he explodes up the middle, finds James Maloney on the inside and the Warriors finally get one under the posts, after three tries previous all out wide. He converts his own effort easily.
New Zealand Warriors 24-0
35 min: Penalty South Sydney, a bit unlucky for the Warriors, Lillyman ruled to have obstructed Issac Luke but he couldn't really get out of the way. Souths with a chance to get on the board before halftime...
37 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Dylan Farrell. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow unsuccessful.
A wonderful backline movement puts Dylan Farrell through a gap out wide and the Bunnies get on the board. Sandow's conversion attempt goes wide.
New Zealand Warriors 24-4
40 min: The Bunnies have fought back here, they make a huge break up the guts and with ten seconds before the break they try a quick play-the-ball but the Warriors hold down long enough to get in position defensively, but not long enough to be penalised, much to the chagrin of the home crowd. Halftime is blown and the Rabbitohs faithful are baying for the blood of the men in pink.
That marks HALFTIME at ANZ Stadium. The Warriors dominated the opening quarter but Souths have stuck in with some more aggressive defence and more exciting attack to get themselves on the board before halftime. The visitors look clearly better but with Souths' determination late in that half, anything could happen.

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41 min: The Rabbitohs have come out with the same positivity with which they ended the first half here, big defence following a big deep kick that has the Warriors entrenched in their own zone. Now a Warriors error their own side of halfway - Souths could test the scorers here again...
44 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Chris McQueen. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
That positive start translates into points for South Sydney, McQueen is over and the margin is back to 14. Sandow nails the conversion.
New Zealand Warriors 24-10
46 min: VIDEO REFEREE possible Warriors try, Manu Vatuvei in the corner. Looks to be a knock on. NO TRY it is.
50 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Joel Moon. Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Big metres and some razzle dazzle play from the Warriors and Joel Moon capitalises on the momentum to take the Warriors over for another try. Maloney misses for the first time this afternoon, the Warriors now in front by 18.
New Zealand Warriors 28-10
53 min: BANG! Ouch. The ball bounces off the crossbar from a high kick and Souths unlucky not to come up with a try! Looks like two Warriors have come off worse for wear too.
56 min: Sandow knocks on in attack just as Souths looked dangerous. The Warriors push upfield but Chris looks injured in backplay...
58 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Joel Moon. Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Big boot up in the air, midfield bomb - and after the ball slides left, Joel Moon claims a double! Warriors take a big lead now as Maloney converts.
New Zealand Warriors 34-10
61 min: TRY
TRY South Sydney Rabbitohs
Scored by Dylan Farrell. Conversion attempt by Chris Sandow successful.
A freak bounce and wow, Dylan Farrell has it somehow, and the Bunnies are in! Great try off a wonderful kick which bounced very awkwardly. Farrell did very well to pick it up. Sandow converts quickly.
New Zealand Warriors 34-16
64 min: The Rabbitohs really impressing with some solid attacking footy but it's a poorly managed ball by Greg Inglis that sees a knock-on ruled.
68 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Manu Vatuvei wins the battle of the skies, fielding the Maloney cross-field bomb with ease to touch down for his second of the day. Maloney misses.
New Zealand Warriors 38-16
69 min: Oh dear... the Bunnies have put it out on the full. Warriors penalty, halfway.
71 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Manu Vatuvei. Conversion attempt by James Maloney unsuccessful.
Same story, this time a more lofted kick from Johnson sees Vatuvei pluck it out of the air, you've gotta feel sorry for Nathan Merritt. Maloney now misses his third conversion attempt after starting four from four.
New Zealand Warriors 42-16
73 min: Another big bomb from Maloney, this time Chris McQueen is safe underneath it.
75 min: Rhys Wesser manages to deny Pita Godinet a stunning solo try on debut.
79 min: TRY
TRY New Zealand Warriors
Scored by Pita Godinet . Conversion attempt by James Maloney successful.
Pita Godinet, denied minutes earlier, dummies out of dummy half, and dives over to score on debut! Maloney nails the conversion near the posts and it's 48-16 to the visitors, and FULLTIME.
New Zealand Warriors 48-16
FULLTIME at ANZ Stadium, the Warriors have run out convincing winners 48-16 over the Rabbitohs, establishing an early dominance that was never really challenged.