Winger Marcelo Montoya, half Luke Metcalf and second-rower Mitch Barnett have all recorded try doubles, as NZ Warriors pounded Parramatt Eels 46-10 for their biggest win of the NRL season.
Eight days after their heaviest defeat of the campaign so far against South Sydney Rabbitohs, the Auckland side were far too strong for an Eels outfit depleted by State of Origin commitments to their star players.
After early errors, the Warriors opened the scoring through Metcalf, after forward Jackson Ford stormed into Parramatta territory. The homeside pulled a try back through former NZ sevens representative Bailey Simonsson, but their opponents scored the next 34 points to stamp their authority.
In the space of seven minutes, Montoya had his first try, Metcalf secured his double and Montoya followed suit, with utility Dylan Walker celebrating his 200th NRL appearance with a four-pointer on halftime.
Faultless goalkicking from Shaun Johnson - marking his 200th outing for the club - sent them under the stands 30-4 ahead, their biggest halftime score since 2014.
Any fears the Warriors might let their foot off the accelerator were quickly dispelled, when Barnett used his power to score, despite the attentions of three tacklers. Winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak flew into the corner for a trademark try, before former Warriors Shaun Lane broke the Eels drought.
Barnett again showed his sheer strength to bulldoze Parramatta fullback Sean Russell for his double.
Johnson imposed his class on the encounter, Ford led all runners with 194 metres, while also reeling off a team-leading 33 tackles.
Their 10th win of the season promotes the Warriors above Melbourne Storm, the Rabbitohs and Eels to fifth on the NRl table, with the margin helping their points differential, but those achievements may yet come at a cost, with Walker nursing an arm injury at the end.
Captain Tohu Harris also seemed in trouble, when he had to leave with an ankle complaint during the second half, but incredibly, he returned in the dying moments to relieve any fears over his ongoing health.
The Warriors next face Cronulla Sharks at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart next Sunday.
Warriors 46 (Barnett 2, Metcalf 2, Montoya 2, Walker, Watene-Zelezniak tries; Johnson 7 conversions) Eels 10 (Simonsson & Lane tries, Russell conversion)
