Full-Time: Warriors 42 def Bulldogs 18
Successful - 42-18
Let's have one for the big fella! Addin Fonua-Blake is in the right place at the right time to get off the nudie run. Asi's bomb was allowed to bounce and AFB chases through and slams it down.
Shane Flanagan trying to not put that on his son's defensive misread... We see that Shane.
Walsh converts - 36-18
Kosi grabs his second of the evening. GAME, SET AND MATCH
Challenge inconclusive - appears to be a correct decision from Butler
Captain's challenge
Walsh converts - 30-18
TIME WARP!!! Taking it back to 2014, Shaun Johnson showing and going it. That might just do it for the New Zealand Warriors here tonight.
Jackson Topine saves the day
PENALTY WARRIORS: Bulldogs inside the 10m
Great grab from Curran. Warriors survive.
PENALTY BULLDOGS: Josh Jackson hit late after he passed the ball
There was every man and their dog competing for the footy. Great kick from Shaun Johnson, even better grab from Freddy Lussick and Josh Curran picks it up to score... Hang on we're having a look at this. They say DWZ loses it
Johnson puts it down.
Burton's bomb is way too deep. Seven tackle set coming up.
Warriors complete their set after points.
Walsh adds the extra two. Warriors lead 24-18
Fonua-Blake was denied a moment ago, but Johnson provides a lovely pass to Eliesa Katoa and the man whose farewelling the club at the end of the season crashes over.
Averillo is ok and we're playing on.
Addin Fonua-Blake dragged down from behind from Stimson. But, problem here for Jake Averillo.
Warriors held up over the line.
Kosi is taken into touch - accidental offside from the Bulldogs (no advantage). So it'll be Warriors ball.
Burton's kick from the sideline is successful
They weren't catching Josh Addo-Carr from there.
INTERCEPT
Six more for the home side.
Euan Aitken crosses for his 50th NRL try. A tremendous individual effort from the range centre turned backrower... Hang on, we're having a look at this, on second viewing he loses the ball. But, the on-field call of Flanagan offside will be supported.
Warriors take short dropout
Bulldogs convert their set after points.
Aaron Schoupp clutching his right knee.
Matt Burton's kick is successful. 18-12
What a mistake. Reece Walsh puts it down. Kyle Flanagan is there to pick it up and Flanagan puts it down.
Burton's bomb caused all sorts of problems. Kiraz picks it up and offloads to Burns but he's taken just short of the line.
Both sides complete their first set of the second 40.
We're underway for the second 40
Half-Time: Warriors 18 leading Bulldogs 6
Warriors retreat and get it back. Burton's having a nightmare
PENALTY BULLDOGS: Shaun Johnson was in front of the kicker.
Chris Butler sending it up as a NO TRY.
Wayde Egan making his way back in the line. Dogs force the Warriors to work it out of yardage.
Jeremy Marshall-King takes the short-dropout. Wayde Egan has been left on the ground so the Warriors are defending with 12 in the line.
Flanagan bats it dead and it'll be a goal-line dropout
Matt Burton placed on report for a shoulder charge.
Time off with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak appeared to have been taken high.
Marshall King sends it deep - they needed that clearing space.
Dallin loses it in the contest. Let's see if the Bulldogs can complete a set...
Burton's pass was good to Raymond Faitala-Mariner but he puts it down.
Vailea drops it with the line wide open...
Set restart Warriors - 10m. The traditional one in the attacking third.
Burton loses it.
Jeremy Marshall-King puts it down.
Jacob Kiraz takes Edward Kosi straight over the sideline. Good response in defence from the Dogs.
Set restart Warriors - ruck infringement
Josh Curran splits them open but a big tackle from Joe Stimson.
PENALTY WARRIORS: Bulldogs were inside the 10m
Set restart Bulldogs - ruck infringement.
Harris loses it. He wanted to challenge but argued for too long with Chris Butler.
Good kick from Burton which finds touch - was looking for JAC.
Walsh converts from the sideline. 18-6 lead here for the home side.
He can't stop scoring at the moment. Off the scrum play, the Warriors shift it left and Johnson finds Walsh and gets it to the man of the moment Edward Kosi. Kosi puts it down and the Warriors strike back.
Aaron Schoupp loses it in the set after points. Massive disaster there.
Burton's kick is successful
They didn't need the full set... Jake Averillo crashes over following a great pass from Aaron Schoupp and the Bulldogs hit back.
Big tackle from Murchie on Burton. Burto earns his side a set restart
Kyle Flanagan chips it behind Reece Walsh and he'll earn his side another set
PENALTY BULLDOGS: Vailea hits Averillo high
Warriors convert their set after points.
Walsh converts - 12-0
DWZ sprints the length of the field to score the Warriors second. It's a pick 6
INTERCEPT
Set restart - ruck infringement
PENALTY DOGS: Offside
Warriors complete their set after points.
Walsh's conversion is successful. 6-0 Warriors lead.
Welcome back to Viliami Vailea. Shaun Johnson tore the Dogs left hand side apart. Lovely ball to Viliami Vailea and he slices past the defence of Addo-Carr to cross for the first try.
Braidon Burns placed on report
PENALTY WARRIORS: Daejarn Asi taken illegally by Braidon Burns. Clear shoulder charge.
Last tackle kick from Matt Burton fails to amount to anything. Warriors survive
PENALTY BULLDOGS: High shot by Tohu Harris - seems harsh to me.
Both sides out of contention for the finals. Good chance for both fan-bases to see how they'll go
Both sides get through their opening sets.
Chris Butler blows time on and we're underway
First and foremost though, a moments silence for Paul Green
Sides making their way out onto the ground. Warriors wearing their heritage strip here tonight.
Mt Smart Stadium is the scene for this opener to Friday Night Football doubleheader. It's the 300th premiership match to be played in Auckland so it's a historic milestone. Some slight positional changes for both sides to take care of first and foremost, Bunty Afoa starts in place of Josh Curran. Tom Ale makes his first appearance of 2022 with Jackson Frei becoming the concussion sub. For the visitors, Harrison Edwards makes his first start, Jackson Topine moves to the bench while the rest of the side is unchanged. Kickoff is approaching at 6pm.
Referees & scorers:
Referee: Chris Butler
Touch Judges: Drew Oultram, Nick Pelgrave
Video Referee: Ashley Klein
WARRIORS (42)
Tries: Viliami Vailea, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Edward Kosi (2), Eliesa Katoa, Shaun Johnson, Addin Fonua-Blake
Conversions: Reece Walsh (7/7)
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (18)
Tries: Jake Averillo, Kyle Flanagan, Josh Addo-Carr
Conversions: Matt Burton (3/3)