March 08, 2026

#hakinakina: Warriors crush Roosters in dominant NRL season opener

Matthew Tukaki Posted On March 8, 2026

The New Zealand Warriors have launched their 2026 NRL season in emphatic fashion, overpowering the Sydney Roosters 42-18 in front of a packed home crowd at Go Media Stadium in Auckland.

The Warriors controlled the match from the early stages, building a strong first-half platform that left the visitors chasing the game. The home side crossed for four tries to one in the opening half, taking a commanding 22-6 lead into the break.

Halfback Tanah Boyd opened the scoring after spotting a gap in the Roosters’ defensive line, before the visitors briefly responded through a try to James Tedesco following a break by Billy Smith.

From there the Warriors tightened their grip on the contest. Adam Pompey added a try out wide, while Kurt Capewell crossed shortly afterwards as the home side began to dominate possession and territory. Five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita also found the line before halftime, extending the Warriors’ advantage.

The Warriors continued their momentum after the break when Leka Halasima scored to stretch the lead even further. The Roosters attempted to mount a comeback through tries to Billy Smith and Angus Crichton, narrowing the margin during the second half.

However, the Warriors quickly shut down any hopes of a comeback. Harris-Tavita grabbed his second try of the night, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad added another late score to seal the dominant victory. Boyd finished the match with a strong kicking performance, converting six of seven attempts.

The convincing result gives the Warriors an ideal start to their campaign and sends a strong signal to the rest of the competition as the NRL season gets underway. For the Roosters, the heavy defeat leaves plenty to address as they look to regroup ahead of the next round.