NZ Warriors have slumped to their fifth consecutive NRL defeat courtesy of a 44-12 pasting by Manly Sea Eagles at Sydney on Saturday.
The short-handed Sea Eagles - without stars Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic - exploded off the start line with an energy the Warriors were unable to match.
Led by powerhouse forward Haumole Olakau'atu and centre Tolutau Koula, the hosts dominated territory and possession and made those advantages count on the scoreboard, essentially putting the contest to bed by halftime with a 24-0 lead.
The Warriors were completely starved of the ball and barely fired a shot in an opening half, as over 90 percent of the game took place in their territory.
The likes of Chanel Harris-Tavita, Reece Walsh, and Jack Murchie helped ensure the Warriors were able to pull back some of the lopsided statistics in the second half. But the damage had already been done, as the embattled Warriors continue to search for answers for their weekly displays of ineptitude.
Manly ran in seven tries to just two for the Warriors, who now face a daunting upcoming stretch against competition frontrunners Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers, and Sydney Roosters.
Manly opened the scoring after just five minutes, with Toafofoa Sipley picking up and powering his way all too easily from dummy half at close range.
Manly were in again minutes later, cashing in on their weight of possession through Haumole Olakau'atu, who fended, spun, then stretched out to score against a suspect Warriors' tryline.
With the Warriors down to 12-men after Bunty Afoa was deemed to have held back Ruben Garrick, the Sea Eagle struck twice in five minutes.
In a bizarre scene, Martin Taupau was told he'd scored as he rose to play the ball, despite replays suggesting he may not have got to the chalk.
The Sea Eagles then marched 70m from the restart for John Schuster to muscle his way over in the corner and send his side out to a 24-0 lead with 10 minutes left in the half.
The Warriors had to be, and they were, the first team to score in the second half, with Reece Walsh opening up the defence and finding Jack Murchie to outmuscle the cover and cross the line.
Less than 10 minutes later, Manly were in for their first try of the half, courtesy of Morgan Harper's break and link with Garrick.
Garrick nabbed his second with just eight minutes left on the clock, when Rocco Berry failed to reel in a bomb and headed the ball clear for the fullback to pounce upon.
Afoa burst on to a shortball to dot down under the crossbar for a consolation try for the Warriors, only for Jason Sabb to go 80m with an intercept try to drive one final dagger into NZ hearts.
And it doesn't get any easier for the Warriors, who move on to face the Sharks at Redcliffe next Sunday.
Sea Eagles 44 (Toafofoa Sipley 4 min, Haumole Olakau'atu 10 min, Martin Taupau 25 min, Josh Schuster 28 min, Reuben Garrick 61 min, 72 min tries; Garrick 7 goals), Warriors 12 (Jack Murchie try 53 min, Bunty Afoa 75 min; Reece Walsh 2 goals). HT: 24-0.
