The New Zealand Warriors scored a convincing 42-12 win over the Brisbane Broncos at Magic Round on Sunday, but the victory came with a worrying moment early in the game.
Star halfback Tanah Boyd went down in the seventh minute after hurting his right knee. He was helped off the field at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, with fears he may have torn his ACL, a serious knee ligament injury that can keep players out for a long time. Te Maire Martin came on to replace him.
Despite losing their key playmaker, the Warriors were dominant. Four tries in the first half to Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Erin Clark, Wayde Egan, and Kurt Capewell gave them a 22-0 lead at the break. The Broncos struggled with discipline, losing lock Pat Carrigan to the sin bin, while Warriors winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira was also binned for a high shot.
Brisbane fought back early in the second half, with captain Adam Reynolds scoring twice. But the Warriors quickly shut down any hope of a comeback, with tries to Ali Leiataua and Martin sealing the big win.
Boyd has been one of the most important players in the Warriors’ impressive season, helping the team sit second on the NRL ladder. He recently signed a contract extension until 2029, which is a sign of how much the club values him.
