Brisbane too strong for flat Warriors

The Brisbane Broncos have shocked a 24000 strong crowd with a 26-10 win over the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland tonight. Played in good conditions, the Warriors were never in the match.

Both teams appeared to have left their kicking games at home in the first ten minutes. in the ninth minute Brisbane recieve a penalty from a play the ball infringement by the Warrior, but miss the attempt. However, it was not long before they got the scoreboard ticking over, when their backs busted open the Warriors defence and put a grubber kick into the Warriors in goal, whick Joel Clinton dived on, but there appeared to be separation between his hand and the ball. What was a touch and go decision, video referee Steven Clark awarded the try through benifit of the doubt.

The Warriors, from the kick-off, put the ball out on the full, thus giving Brisbane a penalty from half-way. This appeared to be a suitable metaphor for how the match panned out for the Warriors.

In the 15th minute, Brisbane are on attack once again and Peter Wallace throws a superb cut out pass that Steve Michaels latches onto and scores unharrassed. Corey Parker converts and takes Brisbane out to a 12-0 lead.

In the 21st minute, the Broncos Brisbane knock-on twenty metres out from their own line and the Warriors attack ferociously with Brent Tate going close in the eastern corner. The broncos cover defenders snuffed out any trouble, but the tackle left Tate with a badly damaged knee. He was ruled out of the rest of the match, with Simon Mannering covering for him in the centres.

The Warriors did not look like breaking Brisbane's defence until the 34th minute, after receiving consecutive penalties to put them on attack, when Joel Moon lunged for the Brisbane line. He was penalised by referee Jason Robinson for a double movement however.

From the penalty, Brisbanes Taylor broke the Warriors defence out wide and a kick was put in for Israel Foulau to regather and score in the corner, to take Brisbane out to a 16-0 lead.

This is where the score stayed for the remainder of the half.

The second half began no better for the Warriors, as in the 44th minute, Brisbane once again went over for a four pointer, after Alex Glenn ran off a Darren Lockyer short pass.

With the score at 20-0 to Brisbane, life was looking onimous for the Warriors and it didn't get any easier when in the 53rd minute, Lockyer went over to score under the posts, with Parker once again converting. 26-0 and the game was effectively over.

The Warriors clawed some of the margin back with a try to Simon Mannering in the 56th minute and another to Ta'i in the 68th minute, bringing the score to 26-10.

It was, however, a mistake ridden performance by the Warriors, who appeared to be physically flat after last weeks heroic win over Manly.

On the positive side, ta'i had a much improved game on last week's effort and looks to have the potential to be the ball playing second rower the Warriors need.

With Lance Hohaia, Manu Vatevai and Brent Tate all out, the Warriors will have their depth tested over the coming weeks.