New Zealand Warriors put on a scintillating display in their 46-10 win over Parramatta Eels in front of 21,696 fans at Western Sydney Stadium on Saturday night.
The Warriors blew the game wide open with three tries in seven minutes just before half-time to make it 24-4. Three Warriors registered doubles in the huge win - Luke Metcalf, Marcelo Montoya and Mitchell Barnett.
The Warriors had to absorb some early pressure but put on the first score. Jackson Ford set up the move, slicing through then Luke Metcalf stepped to the line to make it 6-0 for the visitors.
Parramatta Eels were a bit erratic in the early stages due to new combinations but settled in. From a scrum, they got the ball to Bailey Simonsson who weaved past the defense and touched down.
The visitors showed again in the red zone how efficent they were. They set up the play and it was an exchange of passes which saw Marcelo Montoya to go over untouched to extend their lead to eight.
It felt like deja vu for the Warriors third of the night. They went back to the well, Metcalf with a well-timed pass and Montoya strode away again, stepped past Russell to make it 18-4.
Warriors were cutting them to ribbons to end the half. They broke through again and were set up. Metcalf decides to go himself on last and extends his arm out to get his second of the evening.
Dylan Walker celebrated his 200th in style. Shaun Johnson and Tohu Harris combined with short passes to send Walker into a gaping hole and stepped the fullback to go over for a four-pointer.
They picked up right where they left off in the first half. Barnett streamed through a gap and couldn't find support. From the restart, he charged onto the ball again but got it down this time, 36-4.
It isn't a Warriors game without a Dallin Watene-Zelezniak four-pointer. The right side got it right on this occasion and the winger flew through the air for a trademark touchdown and even took the cameraman with him.
Eels get some consolation through the returning Shaun Lane. It was set up by Daejarn Asi, who stepped past several Warriors defenders then offloaded to the second rower to score.
Warriors iced their win with another four-pointer. Barnett was the third Warriors player to register a double with his work. He was set up on the short side and dived over past Simonsson.