The New Zealand Warriors experienced a nightmarish game against the Gold Coast Titans, culminating in a record-equalling 66-6 defeat. The match started with promise as the Warriors held off an early Titans assault, but quickly turned disastrous.
Despite initial resilience, the Warriors failed to capitalize on their first scoring opportunity when Marcelo Montoya was tackled near the corner flag. The Titans seized momentum and scored their first try after 20 minutes, followed by a series of mistakes from the Warriors. Marata Niukore’s high tackle and subsequent fumble led to more points for the Titans.
The Warriors struggled to gain ground, with Titans’ Isaac Liu and Chris Randall adding to the scoreline. Te Maire Martin’s hip-drop tackle and Jackson Ford’s dislodged try attempt only added to their woes.
By halftime, the Titans had built a commanding 30-0 lead. In the second half, the Warriors’ efforts were thwarted as Khan-Pereira intercepted a pass for a 90-meter try, and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was sin-binned, allowing the Titans to extend their lead further.
Despite a brief glimmer of hope with a try from Te Maire Martin, the Warriors continued to falter. They committed numerous errors, including 13 handling mistakes, which the Titans capitalized on. Khan-Pereira’s four tries and Jayden Campbell’s impressive performance sealed the Warriors’ fate.
The match ended with a 66-6 scoreline, matching the Warriors’ worst-ever defeat. This game highlighted significant issues in defense and ball handling for the Warriors, who will need to regroup and address these problems moving forward.
