A Shaun Johnson-less Warriors have defied expectation to down premiership heavyweights the Sydney Roosters 30-6 at Allianz Stadium on Saturday evening.
It was the Roosters who struck first with Latrell Mitchell wasting no time getting the hosts onto the scoreboard and take a 4-0 lead.
The Warriors didn't take long to wrestle momentum in their favour, Johnson's halfback replacement in Mason Lino opening the visitors' account with a clever play, converting his own four-pointer for a two-point lead. Leivaha Pulu was next on the board and the Warriors extended their lead to eight points by the 20th minute.
It was starting to get ugly for the home side by the half hour mark, with Solomone Kata getting the third try for the Warriors and Lino's third conversion pushed the score to 18-4. The only further points before the break came from a Roosters penalty on the halftime siren which narrows the margin to just twelve.
The second half saw the Warriors consolidate their lead and ultimately extend it - three Lino penalty goals and a converted try for David Fusitu'a pushed the score out to 30-6 by the end of the contest.
That win pushes the boys from NZ up into first pending the result of St George Illawarra's clash with Newcastle tomorrow - they'll look to build on the win when they host the Cowboys in the second double header game at home next Saturday evening.
For the Roosters it's a shock they didn't need or want - but will regroup regardless and head to Cronulla to face the Sharks on Friday night.